The Astros’ path back to October starts with a simple question: how much control does Jim Crane want to keep?
Houston made the postseason in 2026, but the season came with a brutal asterisk. The Astros set an MLB record for the worst record by a division champion and the worst team record-wise to make the postseason, passing the 2005 Padres, who were also swept out of the first round of the postseason.
That backdrop makes the current front-office pause even more important. Right now, the general manager search is on hold, and the delay traces back to one person - Jim Crane. If the Astros are going to get back to the postseason in 2027, they need Crane to be a little less hands-on than he is now.
That kind of owner involvement is exactly why Crane gets placed near the top of any owner rankings around the sport. With Angels owner Arte Moreno deciding to sell the team, Crane would likely land in the top five, maybe even the top three, for how front-facing he is.
The timing matters, too. Crane is waiting to hire a general manager until after the World Series ends, at the latest Nov. 1, and that puts Houston behind the eight ball unless the team promotes from within.
Teams will not be able to negotiate trades with other clubs or free agent deals after Dec. 1 because of the impending labor stoppage. That means the stretch from five days after the World Series at 5 PM ET until Dec. 1 is expected to be a busy window, as players try to lock in deals under those financial rules.
Houston also has a major call to make with Jeremy Peña, who has one year left before free agency. Moving him for assets would make sense unless he agrees to a team-friendly deal, especially since Crane does not extend large contracts to free agents. But if the club’s leadership situation stays unsettled, that could complicate negotiations and affect how outside free agents view the Astros.
And Houston needs help everywhere if it’s going to get back to October. The roster needs pitching, pitching and more pitching, in both the rotation and the bullpen. If the front office is unstable and the manager situation still isn’t settled, it raises a fair question about the message being sent to external free agents.
The closest comparison for Crane might be Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. Both owners are heavily involved, both are constantly in the spotlight, and both make roster and personnel calls that end up hurting their own teams. The difference, of course, is that Crane has won a ring this decade while Jones has not.
For the Astros to get back to the playoffs, Crane has to make the right calls this offseason. The baseball people need to be the ones making the baseball decisions, offering the advice and signing the checks. If Crane stays on the same path, it’s going to work against him.
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