Report: Houston Astros eyeing someone to help clean up messy offseason
NEW BLOOD?
08 September 2023
A lot was made of the Astros' decision to part ways with GM James Click after winning the World Series in 2022. At the time, there were rumors swirling about owner Jim Crane's interest in bringing back former Astros assistant GM David Stearns.
However, Stearns was under contract with the Brewers at the time, and wasn't available for the position even if the rumors were true. The Astros held off on hiring a new GM and made several head-scratching moves in free agency. Like signing 36-year-old Jose Abreu to a massive three-year contact worth almost $60 million.
Jeff Bagwell became the face of the Astros offseason, as he helped oversee the pursuit of Abreu in free agency. He's also taken some heat for the team re-signing Rafael Montero to a big contract. Fair or unfair, many blame Bagwell for Houston's disastrous offseason. Abreu is currently one of the worst hitters in baseball (6th worst OPS in MLB), and Montero has an ERA over 5.
Crane eventually hired current GM Dana Brown to lead the club moving forward. Here's where things get interesting. The Athletic is reporting this week that Stearns has been in contact with the Mets and Astros about a front office position. Houston currently does not have a President of Baseball Operations, so that could possibly be a role Crane is looking to fill.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the Astros' reported interest in Stearns, and discuss how a new power structure could impact the team, and current GM Dana Brown.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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