Texas group to buy Houston Astros

Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane announced Monday that he has agreed to sell the team to a group led by Houston businessman Jim Crane for $680 million — the second-highest price in major league history if it is approved.

Crane, who tried unsuccessfully to buy the team three years ago, called it “a dream come true.”

The sale is subject to approval by Major League Baseball, a process officials said could take 30 to 60 days.

The sale price trails only the $845-million purchase of the Chicago Cubs by the Ricketts family two years ago. The $660-million sale of the Boston Red Sox in 2002 currently is second. Like the Astros’ deal, the Cubs and Red Sox transactions included related entities.

The Red Sox put right-hander John Lackey on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right elbow.

Lackey is 2-5 with an 8.01 earned-run average in his second season with Boston. He was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright has a stress fracture in his lower back that is expected to keep him out a couple of weeks, though the team is awaiting a second opinion before deciding whether to put him on the disabled list.

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson said that Wright had an MRI exam to check on his back, which has been bothering him since he made a diving tag on Houston’s Carlos Lee during a game April 19 at Citi Field.

The Philadelphia Phillies activated pitcher Roy Oswalt from the 15-day disabled list, and the right-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Oswalt, who is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in five starts, had been on the DL because of lower-back inflammation.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a bruised right knee, an injury he sustained on a hard slide into second base last week.

Sizemore sat out most of last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee.

Left-hander Aroldis Chapman had an MRI exam that found inflammation in his pitching shoulder, sending the Cincinnati Reds reliever to the 15-day DL. … The Seattle Mariners released Milton Bradley, ending the struggling outfielder’s brief and tumultuous tenure with the team.

ETC.

Woods aims for U.S. Open

Tiger Woods said he did not do any more damage to his left knee and Achilles’ tendon last week and expects to play in the U.S. Open.

Woods withdrew from the Players Championship after only nine holes because of pain in his left leg. He was six over par at the time, the shortest tournament of his career.

Woods said on Twitter that he expects to be at the U.S. Open on June 16-19 and “will do all I can to get there.”

The NBA holds its draft lottery Tuesday in Secaucus, N.J., with a lucky team earning the right to make the first pick in next month’s draft.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a 25% chance of winning, thanks to their league-worst 17-65 record.

UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero was chosen as this year’s Myles Brand Award winner as the nation’s top administrator by the Black Coaches and Administrators.

Guerrero has served as the NCAA men’s basketball selection committee chairman.

Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George of Ohio State was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The rest of the class of 14 former players and two former coaches will be announced Tuesday at a news conference in New York.