The Houston Astros are shopping for a new front office leader, and the search is picking up. Two months after the club moved on from Dana Brown, the list of names connected to the general manager job keeps growing. The Athletic reported Oct. 20 that Houston could have its hire in place before the World Series is over, and USA Today reports the club wants a GM in place before next month’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas.
This is one of the most important hires of the Jim Crane era. The pick will shape the next manager, the pitching staff and the roster around Yordan Alvarez. Here’s where things stand and who’s in the mix.
Why the Astros Need a GM
On Monday, Aug. 24, the Astros and Brown parted ways in what the team called a mutual decision, per MLB.com. Brown had been GM since Jan. 26, 2023, and was in the final year of his contract. He helped Houston win two division titles, but 2026 was rough. Pitching injuries piled up, and many of his offseason pitching additions, including Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows, didn’t pan out.
“Over the past four seasons, Dana has helped our organization win two division titles and has led our baseball front office through key scouting, Draft and development efforts,” Crane said in a team statement. “On behalf of the Astros, I want to thank him for his commitment, energy and contributions to our organization. We wish he and his family the best.”
The next day at Yankee Stadium, Crane was blunter. “We expect better,” he said, via The Athletic.
The Astros still won the AL West at 81-81, edging Texas on the last day of the season. They were then swept by the White Sox in the Wild Card Series. On Oct. 14 the club announced Joe Espada would not return as manager, per MLB.com. That means the new GM walks into a full rebuild of the dugout and the front office at the same time.
Who’s Running the Search
Crane is. Since Brown left, the owner has overseen baseball operations himself. Brown’s day-to-day duties were split among assistant GMs Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff, plus senior advisor Jeff Bagwell.
Crane said in August that he wouldn’t rush it. “We’ll take our time,” he said, via MLB.com. “There’s not a lot you can do right now when everyone’s playing, but we’ll look at that at the end of the season. We’ve got plenty of time to do that.”
This will be Crane’s fourth GM since he bought the team in 2011, after Jeff Luhnow, James Click and Brown.
The Reported Candidates
Every name below has been reported by a credible outlet. Nobody has been hired yet.
Mike Rizzo, former Nationals GM. Rizzo interviewed with the Astros in Houston on Monday, Oct. 26, per USA Today. He took over as Washington’s GM in 2009 and built the 2019 club that beat Houston in seven games in the World Series. He is the most experienced name tied to the job.
Matt Kleine, Brewers assistant GM. Kleine has already interviewed, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart called him the apparent leading candidate; Kleine was in Houston last week and appeared with Crane at the Houston Sports Hall of Fame induction, per MLB.com. Kleine, 40, is in his 20th season with Milwaukee, starting as an associate scout in 2007, and was promoted to assistant GM on Nov. 1, 2023. He also interned in the Astros’ media relations department in 2007.
Gavin Dickey, Astros assistant GM. He has interviewed, per MLB.com. Dickey joined Houston as a scout in 2011, was promoted to AGM three years ago and oversees the Minor Leagues.
Charles Cook, Astros assistant GM. He has also interviewed, per the same McTaggart report. Cook started as a baseball operations apprentice in 2016 and has been an AGM for about four years. It’s unclear whether the internal interviews are serious or a courtesy.
Connor Huff, Astros assistant GM. The Athletic noted Huff has a particularly good relationship with Crane.
Kevin Ibach, Rays vice president/assistant GM. He has been named as a candidate, per MLB.com. Ibach has spent 14 seasons with Tampa Bay and was promoted to vice president/assistant GM in 2023. Crane hired James Click from the Rays before the 2020 season.
Josh Barfield, White Sox assistant GM. A Houston native, Barfield is among the candidates who have drawn serious interest, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Randy Flores, Cardinals assistant GM. The former big league pitcher has also drawn serious interest, per The Athletic.
Scott Sharp, Royals senior vice president. Reported by Rome of The Athletic. Sharp has spent about two decades in Kansas City and has interviewed for top jobs with the Mets, Giants and Rockies in recent years.
Ben Sestanovich, Braves assistant GM. Reported by Rome of The Athletic. The Harvard product pitched for the Crimson, worked in San Diego’s player development and became one of Alex Anthopoulos’ AGMs in Atlanta in 2019.
What’s Next
The Athletic reports the Astros could make their hire before the World Series ends, and USA Today reports the club wants a GM in place before next month’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. The Astros will fill the GM job before turning to the search for Espada’s replacement, per MLB.com. The Astros have already hired Spencer Medick as director of pitching, per Rome.
Keep it locked on our Astros coverage for updates as soon as the hire is official.
Reporting via USA Today, The Athletic, MLB.com and MLB Trade Rumors.
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