As the Astros continue their search for a new general manager and manager, one familiar name could tell us everything we need to know about the direction of the franchise.
Astros fans, as the long, excruciating wait continues to find out who will be running your baseball team next season, a few things are becoming increasingly clear. First, it appears the Astros are determined to hire their next general manager before choosing a manager. Second, and perhaps most importantly, Jim Crane is still firmly
in control of everything happening inside the organization.
And if you look closely at some of the moves already being made, along with the latest name to surface in the general manager search, you might get a pretty good idea of exactly what Crane is looking for.
The Astros have already made two interesting additions to their player development department. Connor Watson, formerly the assistant director of hitting development with the Cleveland Guardians, has been hired as director of hitting. Clayton Thompson, who spent the past three seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, has also been brought aboard as assistant director of player development.
What makes these hires particularly interesting is that both men previously worked for Driveline Baseball, one of the premier data-driven player development organizations in the world. Driveline has been at the forefront of using technology, analytics and advanced evaluation methods to help players maximize their abilities.
Those additions would seem to indicate that the Astros are moving toward a younger, more analytically driven front office, perhaps one led by an up-and-coming executive who embraces the modern approach to building and developing a baseball team.
But then there’s Mike Rizzo.
The former Washington Nationals general manager has emerged as an intriguing candidate for the Astros’ opening, with reports indicating that he has significant interest in the position and could interview with the organization as early as Monday.
And when you consider everything we know about Jim Crane and the way he prefers to operate, Rizzo might make more sense than anyone else being mentioned.
At 65 years old, Rizzo brings an extensive baseball résumé and a track record of identifying, acquiring and developing talent. He was responsible for drafting franchise players like Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg and orchestrating the blockbuster Juan Soto trade that helped replenish Washington’s farm system and reshape the organization’s future.
Rizzo represents something of a perfect blend between old-school baseball evaluation and modern analytics. He’s a baseball lifer who understands the importance of scouting, player development and relationships, but he also recognizes the value of the numbers and technology that have transformed today’s game.
More importantly, he might be exactly the kind of personality Jim Crane wants running his baseball operations.
And I don’t think that should be overlooked.
We’ve seen Crane’s willingness to involve himself in baseball decisions, and there’s little reason to believe that’s going to change. While the Astros have reportedly explored younger assistant general managers around the league, including Milwaukee Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine, I keep coming back to the same conclusion.
Mike Rizzo seems like Jim Crane’s kind of guy.
He’s experienced, established, respected throughout baseball and probably more comfortable working with an owner who wants to remain actively involved in the decision-making process than a younger executive looking to build an organization entirely in his own image.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Rizzo would be willing to surrender control or simply serve as a figurehead. You don’t build the résumé he has without strong opinions and a clear vision. But there is something to be said for hiring someone who has already experienced the highs and lows of running a major league franchise and understands the realities of working with ownership.
The next question becomes what happens with the managerial search.
You would certainly think the Astros want their next general manager to have significant input in choosing the manager he will be working alongside. That’s the logical approach, and it would explain why the organization appears focused on filling the front-office vacancy first.
Of course, with Crane involved, nothing should be taken for granted.
If Rizzo ultimately gets the job, my expectation is that he would look to keep the majority of this roster intact rather than initiate some massive overhaul. He has enough experience to recognize that the Astros still have a talented core capable of competing, even if there are obvious areas that need improvement.
I could see him making a couple of calculated moves to address weaknesses, improve roster flexibility and position this team to remain competitive over the next several seasons. He’s not someone I would expect to come in and immediately tear everything apart simply to put his own fingerprints on the organization.
And that could be exactly what Crane wants.
The Astros are at an interesting crossroads. They’re trying to modernize their player development operation while also determining who will lead the next chapter of the franchise. The hiring of Watson and Thompson suggests a commitment to analytics and technology, but the potential hiring of Rizzo would bring a proven baseball executive with decades of experience into the equation.
In many ways, that combination could make a lot of sense.
The bigger issue, as I’ve said before, is whether the next general manager will truly be given the authority and freedom to do the job the way he believes it needs to be done.
Because regardless of who gets hired, we already know one thing.
Jim Crane isn’t going anywhere, and neither is his influence over baseball operations.
The question now is whether Mike Rizzo is the man Crane trusts to help guide the Astros into their next era of winning baseball.
And based on everything we’re seeing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is.
