Houston Astros to Join the AL West in 2013

(NewsCore) - Major League Baseball announced Thursday the Houston Astros will move to the American League West division in 2013.

Commissioner Bud Selig confirmed the switch after all 30 MLB owners approved the sale of the Astros to Houston businessman Jim Crane.

The Astros will join the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in the AL West, evening the two leagues at 15 teams apiece.

At the owners' meetings in Milwaukee, Selig also confirmed plans to add a wild card playoff team in each league. Selig said he hopes the owners approve the expanded playoff system for next season.

With the additions, each league would hold a one-game playoff between the top two wild card finishers to determine the final postseason spots.

"We believe after a lot of study and a lot of thought that the addition of two wild cards will help us in the long run," Selig said, adding the extra game would be "dramatic."

The move by the Astros to the AL will be outlined in the new collective bargaining agreement, which is expected to be finalized soon.

"I welcome Jim Crane and his group as they prepare to become the new stewards of the Astros," Selig said in a statement.

"I thank them for their patience and determination throughout a long but necessary process, which allowed us to accomplish our due diligence. The enthusiasm of Jim and his group will serve the Astros and their fans very well in the years ahead."

MLB spent the past six months checking into the background of Crane and his approximately 50 investors, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Crane will reportedly receive $35 million from MLB and $35 million from previous owner Drayton McLane as compensation for agreeing to the league switch.

McLane, 75, has owned the Astros since 1992, when he bought the franchise for $117 million. He now moves on with a payout of more than $600 million, but admitted he has mixed emotions about the sale.

"My health is very, very good," McLane said, according to The Chronicle.

"We're one of the few teams owned by one person. It's a big part of our estate, and it was better to have settled this now than to have done it later on. I've watched the NFL when someone has passed away, and it took a lot of time. I wanted to do it and have it well organized. I'm sad about it."

Crane, the founder of Houston-based Eagle USA Airfreight, had tried to buy the Astros in 2008 but the deal fell through. Crane unsuccessfully bid on the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and the Texas Rangers in 2010.

"It feels very good," Crane said. "I've been trying for a long time. ... I'm stubborn. Now we've got it done. I want to thank Drayton for all he has done. He's a big part of getting us over the finish line."

Read more: Ultimate Astros