Astros owner Jim Crane looks to mend fences with agent

NEW YORK Astros owner Jim Crane thinks his management team and one of the games best agents will be able to bury the hatchet.

Crane talked briefly with two VIPs in front of the visiting third-base dugout on Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium: Tigers Woods and Casey Close

Close, the agent to Dexter Fowler who also advised unsigned Astros draft picks Brady Aiken and Jacob Nix, is a leading figure at Excel Sports Management, which represents Woods.

Ill go up and talk to him tonight, Crane said. Well go and visit a little bit. But Im not going to be dealing with Casey Close. Thats Jeffs (general manager Jeff Luhnows) job. I know who he is, and weve talked once or twice, but Im not dealing with contracts. Thats not my job.

Close had some very strong words about Astros management leading up to this years deadline to sign draft picks, when all of Aiken (the first overall pick), Nix (fifth round) and Mac Marshall (21st round) went unsigned as questions about Aikens throwing elbow arose.

A grievance was filed by the players union over alleged impropriety by the Astros.

Im not going to stand for it, the families arent going to stand for it, and frankly, Major League Baseball shouldnt stand for it, Close told Jim Callis of MLB.com about the Astros conduct in the days leading to the July 18 deadline. Its mind-boggling to me that other clubs wouldnt be appalled.

Nix had an agreement with the team and passed his physical. But Aikens deal fell through and created the potential for penalties had the Astros signed Nix without inking Aiken. The Astros did not honor the agreement with Nix, an agreement the Chronicle was told was only verbal.

I think itll be fine. Every deal is different, and you know, unfortunately that one didnt work out, and we did the best we could, Crane said. And he did the best he could, and we couldnt get a deal. Its unfortunate for everybody.

Crane said he hoped change to MLBs draft setup would come out of this years draft.

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Astros owner Jim Crane looks to mend fences with agent