Houston Astros appear to be slow playing managerial hire, this could be why
PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT
08 November 2023
PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT
The MLB offseason is in full swing with several teams hiring their new managers over the last several days. Craig Counsell is joining the Cubs and resetting the manager market, making $8 million per season.
The Mets are reportedly hiring Carlos Mendoza this week, and the Guardians opted to hire Stephen Vogt. So with all this movement taking place, what are the Astros doing on the manager front?
Dana Brown spoke with the media last week and said the team had not interviewed any candidates, and that might begin at the GM meetings this week. But why is this taking so long? Aren't they concerned that the top choices won't be available at this pace?
Are the Astros taking their sweet time because they already know who they want to hire? Bob Nightengale recently reported that Brown is in favor of promoting Astros bench coach Joe Espada. However, Nightengale also reported Jim Crane might be looking to make a splash with a bigger name.
So what's the holdup? Finding a bigger name to manage could get tougher by the day, with most teams much further along in the hiring process. And who would even be a big name in this hiring cycle?
We all heard reports about Dusty Baker and Dana Brown not seeing eye to eye on playing time for Yainer Diaz and Chas McCormick. Dusty Baker had the power to set the lineup how he saw fit, and Baker won a power struggle over former GM James Click last year.
With all this in mind, how much power does the Astros GM really have if he can't influence lineup decisions and hire his top choice for manager?
Is all this a dog and pony show for the club to eventually hire Brad Ausmus? Who many believe Jeff Bagwell would like to see hired. Or will Joe Espada get the gig?
Be sure to watch the video above as we examine what's really going on with the Astros manager search.
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Presented by Coors Light.
With the season’s first third in the books and the Astros showing signs of life, despite significant injuries, the front office faces a familiar question: what exactly should be prioritized at the trade deadline?
Much of that depends on the status of Yordan Alvarez. His return looms as a pivotal moment—especially in determining whether the Astros truly need to seek out another left-handed bat. But if Alvarez is back and productive, who exactly would that bat be replacing? The only spot where it would currently make sense is second base—unlikely unless Jose Altuve returns to his former position more regularly. Otherwise, it would take a collapse from Jake Meyers to make an outfield move viable.
So, the bigger need might lie on the mound.
With three-fifths of the original rotation on the shelf, is it realistic to expect McCullers to offset the losses? If he remains healthy, history suggests he could. A career ERA of 3.54 is solid enough, and that’s roughly what should be expected—if he can avoid setbacks. But "if" does a lot of work in that sentence.
More likely, the key to surviving Blanco and Hayden Wesneski's absence is Spencer Arrighetti. His return could make or break the back end of the rotation. At a minimum, Houston needs four semi-reliable arms to push into the summer months with some level of confidence. There’s hope Arrighetti could be back in July—though GM Dana Brown’s comments on the team’s flagship station didn’t inspire much clarity. Then again, he has already begun throwing, quietly getting back to work. And don't forget about Luis Garcia. Brown said the club expects him back in late July or early August, though his repeated setbacks should give the team cause for pause.
Meanwhile, the schedule sets up favorably. With upcoming series against the Rays, Pirates, Guardians, and White Sox, the Astros are in a soft spot. Add in the fact that they’ve taken seven of their last ten against AL West opponents, and it’s not a stretch to imagine Houston sitting atop the division by the time Yordan returns—especially if the offense continues its upward trajectory.
Over the last 30 days, the numbers speak to that resurgence:
And even some struggling members of the offense have shown improvement in May. Yainer Díaz, who began May hitting .208, is now up to .229 with a .735 OPS over the last month. Christian Walker has trended up slightly too, with a .218 average and .620 OPS over that same stretch after opening May below the Mendoza Line.
There’s progress. There’s uncertainty. And there’s just enough runway to believe the Astros could be in control of their fate again—if the right moves are made, and if just a couple of the maybes become sure things.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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