Houston Astros owner Jim Crane said last week the team would be in position to increase its payroll next season.
This week, Crane has indicated that the 2014 payroll could be between $50-60 million regardless of whether or not the Astros are able to settle its disagreement with Comcast.
The Astros contend Comcast/NBC improperly filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition in an attempt to prevent it from terminating the media rights agreement between the team and Houston Regional Sports Network.