Amid a historically weak playoff chase in the AL West division, the Astros have “mutually agreed to part ways” with GM Dana Brown, while owner Jim Crane has again appointed himself as the club’s interim lead for baseball operations.
Crane said early Monday that he “will oversee baseball operations through the transition period,” while also dividing Brown’s responsibilities to assistant GMs Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey, and Connor Huff, as well as senior advisor and Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell.
While Crane has been a hands-on owner since acquiring the team in 2011, this latest situation represents a somewhat rare position for any MLB club owner to be in, even in a temporary state. Crane, however, did perform a similar role in the nearly three-month transition period between James Click’s firing in late 2022, and Brown’s arrival in early 2023—a stretch that included the expensive and unproductive free-agent signings of José Abreu and Rafael Montero.
Bigger Issues
Brown’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2026 season, and he was not likely to get another term in Houston. Since taking the Astros job, he posted playoff berths in 2023 and 2024, and was potentially in line for another this season.
The current campaign, however, has shown considerable struggles after last year’s postseason absence. The Astros have Yordan Álvarez, a potential Triple Crown winner and a near-lock for the AL Most Valuable Player award, on the roster, as well as experienced stars such as José Altuve and Jeremy Peña.
Even with that talent, and a top-10 MLB luxury-tax payroll, the Astros still sit one game under .500 entering Monday’s game as they are tied with the Rangers for the division lead.
Crane, meanwhile, has had a tough history with GMs. He fired Click, just days after winning the 2022 World Series amid contract negotiation issues and wider philosophical differences. Click had stabilized the Astros’ front office in the wake of the club’s prior sign-stealing scandal, in part involving former GM Jeff Luhnow.
The Astros’ current situation also bears some resemblance to the Cowboys’ structure, in which that team’s owner, Jerry Jones, also serves as its GM.
