Signs of buyer interest for Astros?

HOUSTON

We've been telling you that owner Drayton McLane put the team up for sale a few months ago. There are reports that McLane is nearing a deal to sell the Astros to Houston businessman Jim Crane.

There has been no confirmation whether that is indeed the case, however earlier this month I talked to a man involved with Crane who said something was in the works. Crane made a run at buying the Astros back in 2008 and then walked away from what McLane thought had been an agreement. He's also made runs at buying the Cubs and the Rangers.

I talked with someone today who is very involved in Houston financial circles and who knows Crane; he told me he talked to Crane about a month ago and said he was still "sniffing around a deal" and that he had to make sure the economics would work. This person also told me it was likely Crane would be the majority owner and bring in partners.

The Astros are saying no deal has been struck yet, but we do know Crane wants the team and McLane wants to sell.