Houston can now turn their attention to Spring Training
Astros fill vacant GM position with James Click
Feb 3, 2020, 7:31 pm
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan
Jim Crane has now filled both positions resulting from his firings this offseason
After already filling A.J. Hinch's manager position by hiring Dusty Baker, Jim Crane and the Astros completed their search for a new GM to replace Jeff Luhnow on Monday by hiring James Click, former VP of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The #Astros have announced James Click will be their new GM. Previously VP of baseball operations for #Rays. Graduate of Yale.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 4, 2020
After interviewing several candidates, the Astros ultimately landed on Click, who was with the Rays since 2006, starting as a coordinator of baseball operations before working his way up to Vice President of the team's baseball operations in November 2016. With such a strong background, including being a Yale graduate and coming from a respected front office, Click was a strong and natural choice for Crane, who had a quick turnaround to fill the position.
However, Click will undoubtedly face the challenge of living up to his predecessor, Luhnow, who did much to advance the Astros in recent years despite the now tainted history. With the manager and GM positions filled, the Astros can now turn the page to Spring Training, which kicks off with pitchers and catchers reporting on February 11th.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.