Did the Astros Really Want Verlander Back?

The Astros are I think 10th in projected payroll for this year and Given their success and their attendance you would think that they could go higher if he were willing to. Jim Crane had told people close to him after he parted ways with James Click that He did not like the Scherzer deal, which kind of scared him a little bit. So why has he drawn the line so starkly when it comes to signing players to really big contracts? The biggest Astros Franchise free agent deal is still Carlos Lee right like 2005.