Owners Approve Extra Wild Card Teams, Astros Move To AL
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Baseball owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. The Astros will move from the NL Central to the AL West beginning in the 2013 season, giving each league 15 teams.
As part of the agreement to switch leagues, the sale price was cut from $680 million to $615 million, a person at Thursday's meeting told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details weren't announced,
Major League Baseball will make up part of the $65 million difference, paying McLane $35 million over three years, the person said.
Commissioner Bud Selig said owners also approved two additional wild-card teams for the postseason, meaning 10 of the 30 teams make the playoffs. Selig said the specifics are being worked out. The players' association favors the move.
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