HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros are closing in on an agreement with top overall draft pick Carlos Correa. Owner Jim Crane said Wednesday the team has a verbal agreement and expects to sign the Puerto Rican shortstop on Thursday. Later, general manager Jeff Luhnow said while they have agreed to some elements of a contract, "it is by no means a done deal." "I feel confident that we are well on the way, and Im optimistic that were going to get something done sooner rather than later," he said, adding it could be in the next 48 hours. Crane also said the team had a verbal agreement in place with Correa when it drafted him Monday night. He said Correa will be in Houston on Thursday and is expected to sign the contract after he passes his physical. "Weve approved the amount, and we hope that hell sign the agreement and pass the physical tomorrow," Crane said. But Luhnow also clarified those comments from Crane. "I did have some discussions with our first pick and his group prior to the selection," Luhnow said. "Thats normal, standard practice. It was not an agreement. It was a discussion of general neighbourhoods and areas. The purpose of those discussions is just to get a sense of whether or not a deal can be done." The 17-year-old Correa is the highest draft pick ever from Puerto Rico. He also is the first shortstop to go first overall since Tampa Bay selected Tim Beckham in 2008, and the fourth shortstop taken with the top pick since 1994. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Correa is committed to the University of Miami. Cheap Jerseys China . The Bayern Munich player fractured his left foot in July and was unlikely to recover in time for the Sept. 11 Group C game in Vienna. "Alaba wont be added to the squad even if he gets fit just in time," Koller said Tuesday. Cheap nfl Jerseys . Betemit hoped the ball would roll foul as it spun in the chalk. It stayed fair. And thanks to a good bit of hustle, Eric Hosmer ended up on second base with a 55-foot double that played a key role in Kansas Citys 4-3 comeback victory over the Orioles on Saturday. http://www.cheapjerseys2014.us.com/[/ur... . They didnt have to. After grinding out its third straight win with a 2-1 victory against Denmark on Sunday, Germany finished top of a group that didnt end up being as dangerous as it looked on paper. [url=http://www.cheapjerseys2014.us.com/]Cheap Jerseys . After earning their first walk-off win of the season Friday, the Astros followed it up with their first extra-inning win Saturday night. wholesale jerseys . Romero allowed eight runs in 1 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career, while catcher J.P. Arencibia broke his right hand from a foul tip in an eight-run second inning.AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Peter Hanson endeared himself to weekend duffers everywhere with his shank off the 12th tee. Didnt do much for his chances at the Masters, however. The third-round leader opened with two bogeys in his first three holes Sunday, and could never get anything going. He wound up in a four-way tie for third with Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson. The group finished at 280, two strokes behind Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. "It was," Hanson said, "a pretty tough day." Hey, at least he and the rest of the gang had a front-row seat for the fun down the stretch. "Ive been in there a couple times nearly the last four years and its a great experience," Westwood said. "When the weather is like this, there is nowhere quite like it, I dont think." Hanson lost his overnight lead in a hurry with those two bogeys. Then came that massive shank on 12; it was hit so poorly it didnt come anywhere close to the creek, instead landing in that grassy area usually reserved for provisional shots. On 16, he hit his tee shot to 4 feet only to miss the birdie putt. He did make birdies on two of his last four holes, but hed been left behind long before that. "It was a good test of emotion, how I can handle myself," Hanson said. "It was still a new situation for me playing the last group and playing with Phil. I felt like it worked out pretty good, but like I said, I think your weaknesses show a little bit when you come under pressure." Any chances Westwood had at removing that "best player never to win a major" probably ended Friday with his double bogey on 18. Oh, he made a run at it, making four birdies in his last six holes, including three straight on Nos. 13, 14 and 15. But its hard to dig out of a hole at Augusta National. "You have got to putt well to win the Masters and I havent putted well," Westwood said. Kuchar actually made a brief appearance atop the leaderboard. With 252 yards to go on his approach shot on 15, he shouted, "Come on baby, be good!" as the ball sailed toward the green. Good it was, coming within 4 feet. He tapped in for the eagle, tying him with Oosthuizen and Watson. "It was awfully exciting," Kuchar said. "Its such an exciting tournam