JIM CRANE

Justin Verlander is headed back to the Houston Astros, who reacquired the three-time Cy Young Award winner from the New York Mets in a trade-deadline blockbuster.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Thursday that Major League Baseball is looking into potentially improper communication between the New York Mets and Yankees regarding star free agent Aaron Judge.

Houston Astros general manager James Click will not be given a new contract.

Fresh off his World Series win, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has agreed to a one-year contract to remain with the team next season.

The Houston Astros just won their second World Series in six years and have been a consistent presence in the playoffs.

Carlos Correa has declared the postseason “his time,” and the Minnesota Twins hope all that October experience can turn around the fortunes of a snake-bitten franchise.

Dusty Baker will return as manager of the Houston Astros for a third season after agreeing to a one-year contract with the AL champions.

Atlanta’s 7-0 victory over Houston in Game 6 to win the World Series could mark the end of an era for the Astros.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are the dynamic duo leading the Houston Astros in another long playoff run.

Carlos Correa is preparing for what could be his final run with the Houston Astros.

Detroit Tigers manager A.

Former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the team, seeking more than $22 million in salary owed under his deal when he was fired in January. Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch were suspended for the season last Jan. 13 by Manfred and fired by the Astros later that day. The Astros and Koch-Weser did not respond to emails seeking comment. The contract called for disputes to go to an arbitration with Manfred or his designee, but Luhnow asked that to be set aside because of Manfred’s involvement. The lawyers say Hinch later told Manfred he failed to disclose to Luhnow the use of electronic equipment.

HOUSTON The Houston Astros spent the offseason reeling from a sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. The change didnt stop the Astros from being the villains of baseball this spring. The Astros are preparing for the possibility of being without designated hitter Yordan Alvarez for the start of the season and potentially longer. The Astros are counting on McCullers to have a big season in his return after missing last season following Tommy John surgery. Tucker, who can play outfield and first base, has appeared in just 50 MLB games over the past two seasons.

HOUSTON The first round of spring training was dominated by fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scam. New manager Dusty Baker, a respected MLB veteran, helped the team navigate reaction to the scandal during the first spring training, which was stopped on March 12 because of the virus. None of us have been through this before in spring training, the emotions that were out there." Several Houston players were dinged in spring training games before the pause. Some opponents had called for retaliation against the Astros, irritated that no Houston players were disciplined for their roles in the scandal.

As baseball scrambles to start an abbreviated season, the prevailing mood is one of nervous excitement. All of these issues could become moot if there's a major outbreak of the virus within baseball. "Ive seen the reports in Houston how COVIDs going up so Im going to have to really be careful. It will be unusual following new safety protocols that are at times incompatible with human nature on the baseball field. Theyre very focused on that and the staff thats going to be associated with the games once we fire up, Crane said.

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane apologized to Sports Illustrated journalist Stephanie Apstein after the team trashed a story she wrote criticizing former Astros Assistant General Manager Brandon Taubman, Apstein said. HOUSTON (CNN) - Houston Astros owner Jim Crane apologized to Sports Illustrated journalist Stephanie Apstein after the team trashed a story she wrote criticizing former Astros Assistant General Manager Brandon Taubman, Apstein said. "We were wrong and I am sorry that we initially questioned your professionalism," Crane said in a letter to Apstein that the journalist shared on Twitter. "On behalf of the entire Astros organization, I want to personally apologize for the statement we issued on Monday October 21st," the letter said. One of the women was wearing a domestic violence awareness bracelet, Sports Illustrated reported.