Jeff Bagwell’s name keeps circling back into the Astros’ front-office conversation, and former Houston GM Tim Purpura thinks the Hall of Famer has the personality for the job. The bigger question, in Purpura’s view, is whether Bagwell would want the daily grind that comes with running a club.
Purpura laid out just how consuming the job can be, describing a day that starts early and stretches deep into the night. On a homestand with a 7 p.m. first pitch, he said he’d arrive by 8:30 a.m. and spend the morning checking in across the organization - from Latin America to the minor leagues to medical reports. He’d also review the previous night’s financials and be ready if owner Drayton McLane was in the building.
That kind of constant involvement, Purpura said, is part of the territory for any GM working under a hands-on owner like Jim Crane. He made the case that ownership can’t simply step back when millions of dollars are tied up in a team and its players.
“The perspective that I've learned throughout the years, is that if I have something of value, it can be a house, a car, stocks, whatever, I own those assets and it would be a dereliction of duty (not to be involved). You have to keep your eye on it's like looking at your bank statement.
Owners have millions of dollars of equity in things. They have to keep to their hands on it.
I wouldn't ever behoove any owner in any sport from keeping an eye on things. Players are the most important asset that a baseball team has.
You can't just hand over the keys to someone.”
Purpura also pointed to the broader business side of the job, saying his time with the Rangers and Astros came with accountability well beyond baseball operations. He recalled contract talks involving Carlos Lee and Carlos Beltran, including moments when agents were negotiating directly with ownership.
“I've only really worked for two owners. There was accountability with the Rangers and the Astros for what was going on with the ballclub.
It wasn't just baseball operations; it was everything from ticket sales to media rights. I think back to Carlos Lee and his contract.
His agent went behind my back and was negotiating with the owner. The same was true with Carlos Beltran which was surreal.
I remember getting to the office extra early waiting for Scott Boras to call. I kept waiting and at 8pm, Drayton phones me and says he's spoke to Boras and here's where things are at.
They have to be involved from a financial point of view, or they wouldn't be doing the right thing.”
For Purpura, one of the better parts of the day came in the afternoon, when he’d check in with Phil Garner, watch batting practice, and spend time around the clubhouse. He said that’s where the job often turned into problem-solving, whether it was answering media questions, handling injury issues, or talking through the game afterward. He usually wouldn’t leave until after 11 p.m.
That’s the backdrop for the Bagwell discussion. Purpura said the person he knows would be up for it.
“Nolan Ryan did it when he took over the Rangers. He put in the time.
Jeff, as a person, the answer is a flat out "yes". Jeff and I had a great relationship, an open one, and we discussed everything.
The thing about Jeff was that he was the best teammate I ever saw to every member of that clubhouse. He always asked lots of questions.
I thought that was great. It's all how you structure it.”
Purpura’s Nolan Ryan comparison makes sense on paper: both are Astros legends, both are Hall of Famers, and neither one needed the job in the traditional sense. But he also made clear that a first-time GM would face a steep learning curve, especially in today’s game.
“There’s so much now in terms of analytics you have to choose and determine what you value the most. I went out to spring training a few years ago with the Pirates and sat in all of their player developmental meetings.
They had analysts there with the coaches and it was interesting to see how many people the opportunity had to weigh in with their opinions. There are so many people that are involved because there's so much data.
If chooses to become GM, he'll have to select somebody to interpret some of the stuff and determine what they value and what they don't value.”
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