Crane: Twisting in wind (c) Associated Press

Crane recently met with Commissioner Bud Selig in talks both sides characterized as "constructive". To emphasize this point, neither side was willing to go beyond that adjective in order to provide any details. "Constructive" is often diplomat-speak to say the talks were not "destructive", so don't assume any progress was made.

For those of you who have been gone all summer or only wish you had, Crane agreed to a $680 million sale price to buy the Astros, their portion of the new Comcast cable network and their rights to Minute Maid Park back in May. Approval of the sale was expected by July but complications arose.

MLB claims it is still checking into allegations of past questionable behavior from Crane and his businesses. Crane claims MLB is trying to hold the sale hostage for an agreement that the team will switch leagues in 2013, a condition never before tied to an ownership bid. Subsequent events and the cost of switching leagues threaten to devalue the franchise considerably and Crane is pushing for some compensation if he has to agree to the switch. MLB is staying mum on the compensation issue but, behind closed doors, they are probably unwilling to set such a precedent.

Therein lies the impasse. Crane says he'll likely walk away from his offer if it is not settled by the November 30th deadline stipulated in the sale contract with current majority owner, Drayton McLane. MLB has only one scheduled owners meeting before then, slated for mid-November.

Four things could happen:

1. MLB approves the sale without forcing Crane to switch leagues. This appears to be what most Astros fans hope for, especially McLane.

2. Crane gives in and accepts switching leagues without compensation and then MLB approves the sale. This is what MLB appears to want.

3. MLB gives in and gives some compensation to Crane (what that is, exactly, hasn't come to light) in return for agreeing to switch leagues and then MLB approves the sale.

4. Crane decides to withdraw his bid on or after November 30th, forcing McLane to start the sale bidding process all over again, only with a weaker product and with there likely to be nobody who will offer McLane anywhere near the $680 million Crane's group was planning to pay. The issue of realignment is probably tabled since McLane is unlikely to approve the switch on his own.

Astros fans are like the kids in a divorce. Many are strongly opposed to switching leagues but MLB seems completely deaf to their desires on this. McLane has said he's heard no opposition from fans but he is clearly listening with his wallet, not with his ears, on the subject.

With all that as a backdrop, don't expect much action from Ed Wade and the front office. After mid-season salary dumps, the Astros can expect to pare down the payroll still further despite keeping Carlos Lee on the roster for the final year of his contract. Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers will be dangled as trade bait. Brandon Lyon will be returning after shoulder surgery.

Jason Michaels ought not be retained and Alberto Arias will likely be non-tendered. That will leave only three other players whose fates may be tied to how much they'll count against the payroll - free agent Clint Barmes and arbitration-eligible J.A. Happ and Humberto Quintero.

Everyone else on the 40-man roster will be making at or close to the minimum salary. Do not expect any significant free agent signings for 2012. In fact, there may be none at all.

So, despite being bereft of talent, expect no free agent upgrades this winter. If there are any signings, it will be of the Ryan Rowland-Smith variety. Remember him?

The near-term picture looks bleak and the long-term may be even bleaker as long as McLane is still behaving as a transitional owner and the new one is being squeezed into surrendering the team's 50-year old National League birthright for a few shekels of silver.

The on-field product will be minor league but ownership (whomever they are) will expect the fans to spend as if it is big league quality. Whether Houston fans, well known for being intolerant of losers, will buy into this premise is doubtful at best.

Take a look at the sea of empty green seats at Minute Maid Park and realize Selig has done everything possible to take a once-proud franchise and alienate it from its fan base yet still believes another sucker is out there somewhere salivating to match Crane's price.

Whether Crane still wants to be a party to this fiasco will be the winter's biggest local baseball story.

- Bob Hulsey