Dana Brown’s exit from Houston left the Astros searching for direction, with Jim Crane suddenly at the center of a front office missing its general manager.
The Astros parted ways with Brown on Monday. The club initially called it a mutual decision, but Crane later confirmed the move was his call. Brown, in the final year of his contract, was disappointed, Crane told reporters, but handled the decision professionally. Crane admitted the organization was not “where they wanted to be.”
That abrupt split leads off the latest MLB Trade Rumors Podcast, hosted by Darragh McDonald and featuring MLBTR’s Steve Adams. The episode covers three major developments: the uncertainty in Houston, Seattle’s promotion of pitching prospect Kade Anderson, and the completion of the Padres’ sale to José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.
Crane now oversees baseball operations. He’s relying on assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey, and Connor Huff, along with senior advisor Jeff Bagwell. No replacement for Brown has been named.
Crane says Astros have not started GM search
Crane gave little indication of a quick search for a new general manager. He said the Astros are unlikely to begin the hiring process in earnest until after the season, when more external candidates would be available.
Pressed on whether Bagwell could be a candidate, Crane declined to name anyone. “We don’t have any candidates at this point and haven’t even started looking,” he said.
Bagwell has served as senior advisor since April 2023, after years of informal involvement with the franchise. He reportedly held significant sway in baseball operations following the Astros’ decision to move on from James Click after the 2022 World Series.
He lacks experience running a baseball operations department, but Crane dismissed that as a disqualifier. “Experience is valuable but not necessary,” Crane said.
Crane’s previous three general manager hires. Jeff Luhnow, Click, and Brown, were all first-time GMs when they arrived in Houston. Each came from outside the organization: Luhnow from the Cardinals, Click from the Rays, and Brown from the Braves.
This time, Crane did not commit to another external hire. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Bagwell and Cook could receive serious consideration, and Houston might also target executives from smaller-market clubs like the Rays, Brewers, or Guardians.
While Houston faces a leadership vacuum, Seattle made a move of its own by calling up Anderson, one of the game’s promising pitching prospects. The Mariners’ decision comes as Colt Emerson heads for surgery, a sharp contrast between a promotion and a setback.
The podcast’s final major topic brings closure of a different kind. MLB owners have approved the Padres’ sale to Feliciano and Jones, making their ownership of the San Diego franchise official.
Listener questions also get airtime, including whether the Red Sox can reach an extension with Adley Rutschman. But the episode’s core follows three clubs at very different crossroads: Houston reshaping its front office, Seattle elevating Anderson while losing Emerson, and San Diego beginning a new era under Feliciano and Jones.
