After appearing that the Houston Astros would likely have both manager Dusty Baker and general manager James Click back in 2023 for a run at a repeat World Series title, things changed dramatically on Friday.
James Click not returning to Houston Astros in general manager role
As reported by Chander Rome of The Houston Chronicle, Click and the Astros could not agree on a one-year offer to return as the team’s general manager. This comes days after Baker inked a one-year deal to return to Houston for the 2023 season, giving him a chance to lead the Astros to a repeat of their 2022 World Series win.
Bob Nightengale is reporting that Click was actually fired “after publicly airing his grievances at the GM meetings.”
"We are grateful for all of James’ contributions. We have had great success in each of his three seasons and James has been an important part of that success. I want to personally thank him and wish him and his family well moving forward." - Jim Crane pic.twitter.com/ShaiN4Uah8
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 11, 2022
Both Click and Baker were extended contracts, but now only one of them will be returning to Houston in 2023, adding to the list of questions about what the Astros will do this offseason, including who will fill the first base position and if starting pitcher Justin Verlander will return.
With Click out of the picture, Houston’s front office continues a recent stretch of losses. Assistant general manager Pete Putila was hired by the San Francisco Giants to be their next general manager in October, just before the Astros began their postseason run.
Could a reunion with David Stearns be lurking? Stearns was a former assistant general manager in Houston and just stepped down last month as the Milwaukee Brewers’ president of baseball operations. His contract with the Brewers expires at the end of the 2023 season, so could the Astros find someone else temporarily to fill the GM role and wait for Stearns to become available? The timing would be after Baker’s one-year deal expires, perhaps ushering in a new era on several fronts in south Texas.
The Astros will likely move quickly to secure the general manager position, but it could well be a position that is in flux for 2023 as the possibility of Stearns (who also been a person of interest for the New York Mets in their front office) looms.
We will have more on this story and Houston’s direction in the front office when it becomes available.