Editing Houston Astros (section)

===2010–2014: Last years in the NL and move to the AL West===
The 2010 season was the first season as Astros manager for [[Brad Mills (manager)|Brad Mills]], who was previously the bench coach of the [[Boston Red Sox]].  The Astros struggled throughout a season that was marked by trade-deadline deals that sent longtime Astros to other teams.  On July 29, the Astros' ace starting pitcher, [[Roy Oswalt]], was dealt to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for [[J. A. Happ]] and two minor league players.<ref>{{cite web |title=Source: Oswalt headed to Phillies |date=July 29, 2010 |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/roy-oswalt-philadelphia-phillies-072910 |access-date=November 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601103458/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/roy-oswalt-philadelphia-phillies-072910 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oswalt accepts trade to Phillies |date = July 29, 2010|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5420095 |access-date=November 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015205633/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5420095 |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>  On July 31, outfielder [[Lance Berkman]] was traded to the [[New York Yankees]] for minor leaguers [[Jimmy Paredes]] and [[Mark Melancon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/07/31/yankees-make-berkman-trade-official |title=Yankees make Berkman Deal Official |publisher=Yankees.lhblogs.com |date=July 31, 2010 |access-date=July 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803181823/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/07/31/yankees-make-berkman-trade-official/ |archive-date=August 3, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=McTaggart |url=http://pressbox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100730&content_id=12811944&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Astros finalize Berkman deal with Yankees |publisher=Pressbox.mlb.com |date=July 30, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926221336/http://pressbox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100730&content_id=12811944&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=September 26, 2015 }}</ref>  The Astros finished with a record of 76–86.

On July 30, 2011, the Astros traded OF [[Hunter Pence]], the team's 2010 leader in home runs, to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]].  On July 31, they traded OF [[Michael Bourn]] to the [[Atlanta Braves]].  On September 17, the Astros recorded their first 100-loss season in franchise history, ending the season eleven days later with an 8–0 home loss to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].  Cardinals pitcher [[Chris Carpenter]] pitched a two-hit complete game shutout. The Cardinals would go on to win the National League Wild Card, before beating the Texas Rangers in the World Series. [[Lance Berkman]], who was now a Cardinal, was a key player in their championship victory. The Astros finished with a record of 56–106, the worst single-season record in franchise history (a record which would be broken the following season).

In November 2010, Drayton McLane announced that the Astros were being put up for sale. McLane stated that because the Astros were one of the few franchises in Major League Baseball with only one family as the owners, he was planning his estate. McLane was 75 years old as of November 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/archive/7798988/ |title=Owner Drayton McLane officially puts the Houston Astros up for sale &#124; abc13.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=November 19, 2010 |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124064447/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Fsports&id=7798988 |archive-date=November 24, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>  In March 2011, local Houston businessman [[Jim Crane]] emerged as the front-runner to purchase the franchise. In the 1980s, Crane founded an air freight business which later merged with [[CEVA Logistics]], and later founded Crane Capital Group. McLane and Crane had a previous handshake agreement for the franchise in 2008, but Crane abruptly changed his mind and broke off discussions. Crane also attempted to buy the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 2008 and the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] during their 2010 bankruptcy auction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/McLane-close-in-deal-to-sell-Astros-to-Jim-Crane-1687865.php |title=McLane 'close' in deal to sell Astros to Jim Crane – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=March 25, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029105654/http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/McLane-close-in-deal-to-sell-Astros-to-Jim-Crane-1687865.php |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Crane came under scrutiny because of previous allegations of discriminatory hiring practices regarding women and minorities, among other issues. This delayed MLB's approval process. In the summer of 2011, Crane claimed those issues had been resolved, and suggested that the delays were baseball's attempt to move the Astros to the American League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/09/08/frustrated-jim-crane-feels-offended-impatient-in-astros-sale-process/ |title=Frustrated Jim Crane 'offended' by speculation about delays in Astros sale process |publisher=Blog.chron.com |date=September 8, 2011 |access-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029113845/http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/09/08/frustrated-jim-crane-feels-offended-impatient-in-astros-sale-process/ |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October later that year, Crane met personally with MLB Commissioner [[Bud Selig]], in a meeting that was described as "constructive".<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Crane has 'constructive' meeting with Bud Selig |first=Zachary |last=Levine |url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/10/10/jim-crane-has-constructive-meeting-with-bud-selig/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228002432/http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/10/10/jim-crane-has-constructive-meeting-with-bud-selig/ |archive-date=December 28, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 15, 2011, it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the franchise to the American League for the 2013 season. The move was part of an overall divisional realignment of MLB, with the National and American leagues each having 15 teams in three geographically balanced divisions. Crane was given a $70&nbsp;million concession by MLB for agreeing to the switch; the move was a condition for the sale to the new ownership group.<ref>{{cite news |title=Houston Astros To The American League: MLB Gives New Owner A $70 Million Discount, According To Reports |url=http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/11/16/2566458/houston-astros-to-the-american-league-mlb-gives-new-owner-a-70 |newspaper=SB Nation |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126044946/http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/11/16/2566458/houston-astros-to-the-american-league-mlb-gives-new-owner-a-70 |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Two days later, the Astros were officially sold to Crane for $615&nbsp;million after the other owners unanimously voted in favor of the sale.<ref name="AstrosSaleMLB">{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=November 17, 2011 |title=Sale of Astros to Jim Crane, move to American League in 2013 approved |url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/25992120 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912113823/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/25992120 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |access-date=August 9, 2015 |publisher=Major League Baseball Advanced Media LP}}</ref> It was also announced that 2012 would be the last season for the Astros in the NL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111117&content_id=25996382&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |title=Astros bring welcome change to American League West |publisher=Houston.astros.mlb.com |access-date=November 5, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510202112/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111117&content_id=25996382&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou |archive-date=May 10, 2013 }}</ref>  After over fifty years of the Astros being a part of the National League, this move was unpopular with many Astros fans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Astros' sale finalized; 2 more for playoffs |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7246443/houston-astros-sale-approved-mlb |newspaper=ESPN.com |date=November 18, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410031253/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7246443/houston-astros-sale-approved-mlb |archive-date=April 10, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Local attorney says Astros' move to AL violates lease agreement |first=Steve |last=Campbell |url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/11/16/local-attorney-says-astros-move-to-al-violates-lease-agreement/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle (Ultimate Astros blog) |date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118102613/http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/11/16/local-attorney-says-astros-move-to-al-violates-lease-agreement/ |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2011, Jeff Luhnow was named general manager.

[[File:Jose Altuve Astros in May 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|Astros second baseman [[Jose Altuve]] in 2014]]
In 2012, the Astros were eliminated from the playoffs before September 5. On September 27, the Astros named [[Bo Porter]] to be the manager for the 2013 season.

On October 3, the Astros ended over 50 years of NL play with a 5–4 loss to the Chicago Cubs and began to look ahead to join the American League. Winning only 20 road games during the entire season, the Astros finished with a 55–107 record, the worst record in all of Major League Baseball for the 2012 season, and surpassing the 2011 season for the worst record in Astros history.

On November 2, 2012, the Astros unveiled their new look in preparation for their move to the American League for the 2013 season. The navy and orange uniform returned to the original 1960s team colors, and debuted a new version of the classic navy hat with a white "H" over an orange star.<ref>{{cite news|last=McTaggart|first=Brian|title=Astros, fans celebrate unveiling of team's new look|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/40159356/|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814185952/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/40159356/|archive-date=August 14, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 6, 2012, the Astros hired former Cleveland Indians director of baseball operations [[David Stearns]] as the team's new assistant general manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/stearns-hired-astros-assistant-gm-232452960--mlb.html |title=Stearns hired as Astros' assistant GM |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110101800/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/stearns-hired-astros-assistant-gm-232452960--mlb.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012 }}</ref>

The Houston Astros played their first game as an American League team on March 31, 2013, where they were victorious over their in-state division competitor, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], with a score of 8–2.

On May 17, [[Reid Ryan]], son of [[Nolan Ryan]] was introduced as  president of operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/05/17/nolan-ryans-oldest-son-named-astros-president/|title=Nolan Ryan's Oldest Son Named Astros President|work=[[WBBM-TV]]|date=May 18, 2013|access-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news 
| title = Astros president Reid Ryan says his business is winning championships 
| date = April 5, 2019 | url = https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Astros-President-Reid-Ryan-says-his-business-is-13733177.php
 | work = [[Houston Chronicle]] 
| access-date = October 23, 2019}}
</ref>

On September 29, the Astros completed their first year in the American League, losing 5–1 in a 14-inning game to the New York Yankees. The Astros finished the season with a 51–111 record (a franchise-worst) with a season-ending 15-game losing streak, again surpassing their worst record from the previous season. The team finished 45 games behind the division winner [[Oakland Athletics]], further adding to their futility. This marked three consecutive years that the Astros had lost more than 100 games in a single season. They also became the first team to have the first overall pick in the draft three years in a row.

In February 2014, [[Nolan Ryan]] rejoined the Astros front office as assistant to owner [[Jim Crane]], GM [[Jeff Luhnow]] and president of business operations [[Reid Ryan]]. From 2004 through 2008 he worked as a special assistant to the GM.
<ref>
{{cite news 
| title = Nolan Ryan joins Astros front office in advisory role 
| url = https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/nolan-ryan-joins-astros-front-office-in-advisory-role/
| work = [[CBS Sports]] 
| access-date = October 29, 2019}}
</ref>

For the [[2014 Houston Astros season|2014 season]] the team went 70–92, finishing 28 games back of the division winner [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]], and placing fourth in the AL West over the Texas Rangers.

[[A. J. Hinch]] was named manager on September 29, replacing [[Bo Porter]], who was fired on September 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/houston-astros-hand-managerial-reins-to-aj-hinch/c-96996878|title=Houston Astros hand managerial reins to A. J. Hinch|website=MLB.com}}</ref>