Astros GM opening comes with uncomfortable questions on current hierarchy

· Yahoo Sports

MLB executives have a few concerns about the front-office job that remains vacant with the Houston Astros. (Evan Triplett/Getty Images)

No matter how the 2026 season ends, the Houston Astros are clearly staring down a roster and leadership overhaul this offseason. With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Astros hold just a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers, despite a mediocre 77-76 record. Even if they stand tall against their in-state rival until the end of the season, the Astros are on pace to become the worst division winner in MLB history. 

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For Astros owner Jim Crane and his advisors, the descent from title contenders to league-average performers has meant putting personnel on notice. Former Astros general manager Dana Brown was relieved of his duties in August, and skipper Joe Espada has his future hanging on Crane's decision at season's end. In addition, the Astros let go of senior director of amateur scouting Deric Ladnier, whom Brown hired, on Wednesday.

Brown's absence means Crane's baseball leadership team includes assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey, and Connor Huff, along with senior advisor Jeff Bagwell. According to the Astros, Crane himself will oversee baseball operations until a new leader is hired. 

MLB exec on Astros GM opening: 'Might be the worst job'

While Crane offers stability to an organization he's owned since 2012, some question how much independence and volition a new general manager would have in the role. Yahoo Sports baseball insider Russell Dorsey spoke to 24 MLB executives to ask who would be on their short list of candidates to lead a baseball front office, along with why some jobs might be more ideal than others. 

"Why would you want to go to Houston and have all of your decisions get undercut by [senior adviser] Jeff Bagwell?" one NL executive asked Dorsey. "It might be the worst job of the ones available."

Bagwell, a Hall of Famer, was elevated to a senior advisor role supporting ownership and baseball operations in April 2023 after serving as a special assistant.

"No one's going to bat 1.000 when you're trying to sign players," Brown said on a Sept. 1 interview with Foul Territory, shortly after leaving the Astros. "I talked to Jeff often. I would get his baseball opinion. He's a good man to have around ... I thought Jeff gives really good input. I really feel good about his baseball knowledge and his wisdom. He knows a lot about makeup and what it takes to win."

Familiar names top MLB execs' front-office wish list

According to Dorsey's unofficial survey, the top candidate-excluding current front office leaders of other teams-is Jon Daniels, a former Rangers general manager and current senior advisor with the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Daniels is the type of guy that when the situation is most stressful, you're going to see the best in him," said one AL executive.

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes finished second in the poll, while a familiar name led a five-way tie for third place, Toronto Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy James Click. 

Former Astros general manager James Click speaks after Houston won the 2022 World Series.  (Harry How/Getty Images)

Click, a longtime front office staffer of the Rays, joined the Astros in 2020 after the dismissal of Jeff Luhnow. Two years later, Click helped guide the Astros to 106 wins, the second-most in franchise history, and a World Series title by beating the Philadelphia Phillies.

After winning the championship, Click rejected a one-year contract offer from the Astros and signed a long-term deal with the Blue Jays. Click's Blue Jays won the AL pennant in 2025 and were one game away from winning the World Series against the Dodgers.

The Astros are currently one of three teams without a baseball front-office leader, along with the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics. It's widely believed that the Angels, because of Stan Kroenke's ownership takeover, havethe most desirable job going into the offseason. 

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This article originally published at Astros GM opening comes with uncomfortable questions on current hierarchy.

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