The Astros’ search for a new general manager may have taken a sharp turn.
For a moment, Milwaukee Brewers assistant Matt Kleine looked like a natural fit to replace Dana Brown, especially with the Brewers on the doorstep of a World Series title. But USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Monday that Houston also interviewed former Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, and that changes the picture.
Nightengale said Rizzo has told close friends he has a “deep desire” to take over as the Astros’ general manager. He also reported that the 65-year-old holds a deep respect for Jim Crane.
That puts Houston in a tricky spot. On one side is the appeal of following a path tied to the Brewers’ success, with the added temptation of looking at executives from a team that is about to win it all. On the other is the reality that Milwaukee’s rise has not been the work of one person alone, a point that becomes clearer when looking at what has happened with the New York Mets under former Brewers general manager David Stearns.
Rizzo brings a different kind of comfort. He built the Nationals roster that beat the Astros in the 2019 World Series, but his run in Washington also tailed off by the end.
A move for Rizzo would look like Houston trying to wring out whatever contention remains from its current core. The Astros did make the playoffs this year, though that owed more to the division they were in than anything else.
If Houston wants its next general manager to help shape a new competitive era, Kleine may be the stronger choice. The Brewers’ success has come from more than one source, but Kleine likely has real perspective on player development, which the Astros have lacked for too long.
If Kleine is the target, he would likely wait until after the World Series to accept an offer from Houston, if one comes. For now, the Astros appear to be doing their due diligence and gathering more outside views on what needs to change. Whatever the motive for the Rizzo interview, the front office calendar is now moving fast, and the offseason is almost here.
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