Mariners

HOUSTON — New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the franchise as well as its uniforms.

Crane said Monday the team will conduct a study to decide whether to switch the name.

"We're going to study the information both from the fans and from all sorts of marketing people," Crane said. "I'm not saying we're going to change. We haven't made the decision yet whether we're going to change."

The team was established in 1962 as the Colt .45s and has been called the Astros since 1965 when it was changed to coincide with the move to the Astrodome.

Crane said switching uniforms is something they are "highly considering." Any changes wouldn't happen until 2013 when Houston makes the move from the National League to the American League.

"We had the Colt .45s and everybody liked that one," Crane said. "So you can imagine how upset they were when we switched that. What you get when you look at the fan base is the older we get and I'm old, you don't like to change. But the younger fans are very receptive to change and the older ones aren't, so that's what we saw with the American League."

Crane's comments came at an event to announce several fan initiatives.

Crane and his staff met with many fans before deciding on these initiatives. He has been looking into ways to improve the team, which finished a franchise-worst 56-106 last season, and the fan experience since the sale from Drayton McLane was completed in late November.

"We haven't said we're going to do that, so don't jump to any conclusions," he said of a possible name change. "Sometimes change is good."

Crane said some past uniforms could be incorporated into a new design.

"We've been studying the uniforms and we think there are some good ideas with the past," he said. "We have had baseball's people in to talk to them about what needs to be done. We're trying to follow the proper protocol. They have very tight rules. We're going to get some fan input together and put a study group together."

Report: Giants, Lincecum exchange two-year offers

The San Francisco Giants reportedly have much work to do to sign ace Tim Lincecum to a long-term deal, but could get him for the short term, according to reports.

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Lincecum, the former Washington Husky, rebuffed the Giants' offer of at least $100 million for five years.

Heyman reported that Lincecum wants a deal for seven or eight years but would be happy with a one- or two-year deal for the time being.

The Giants offered Lincecum $40 million on a two-year deal and Lincecum wanted $44 million, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. Lincecum requested an arbitration record $21.5 million for a non free agent and the Giants countered at $17 million for 2012, Heyman reported.

Notes

• The New York Yankees say Jorge Posada is going to announce his retirement Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

The 40-year-old five-time All-Star catcher will end his 17-year big-league career with the team that drafted him rather than pursue another team.

For his career, Posada hit .273 with 275 home runs and 1,065 runs batted in.

• Omar Vizquel and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year contract.

Vizquel's agent, Adam Katz, declined to provide further details, such as whether Vizquel would be on a major-league or minor-league deal. ESPN first reported the sides had agreed to a deal.

The veteran infielder, who turns 45 on April 24, would be headed into his 24th major-league season if he makes the team out of spring training.

• Andy Musser, a sports announcer for 45 years and a Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster for a quarter-century, has died. He was 74. Musser's son, Allan, of Roswell, Ga., said his father died Sunday evening at his home in Wynnewood in suburban Philadelphia.

Musser retired in 2001 after 25 years with the Phillies, working throughout his tenure beside Harry Kalas.

• The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a $2,705,000, one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard.