HOUSTON (AP) Astros president Reid Ryan is shifting to a lesser role in the organization and owner Jim Crane's son is joining the executive team, moves announced 11 days after Crane apologized to a Sports Illustrated reporter and retracted a statement by the club accusing her of trying to "fabricate a story."

Crane said Thursday he was bringing in his son, Jared, to get more experience and to help in the organization. Crane maintained the moves were not related to the incident with SI or the firing of an assistant general manager.

"It's a family issue. I have an older son that's very good, very bright, and has got some experience but he hasn't been around it, and I want to start teaching him," said Crane, who turns 66 in January and has owned the team for eight years. "I've been working a long time, and very hard a long time, and I have other stuff, and so he's just coming in to lend a hand."