HOUSTON — Astros general manager Dana Brown said Wednesday the club has not yet begun interviewing candidates to become the next manager to replace Dusty Baker, who retired last week after four seasons in Houston. Brown said in a conference call with select reporters that the search would be thorough and did not provide a timeline for filling the position.
Brown, who was hired in January, said his phone was “blowing up” with people interested in the position, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering the previous two Astros managers won World Series titles and the team’s competitive window remains wide open in 2024. Houston has advanced to seven straight ALCS and lost Games 6 and 7 at home to the Rangers last week to be eliminated.
“We’re not going to rush this,” Brown said. “So there’s no real time frame. But as a candidate I’m looking for someone with some leadership qualities, someone who can run the clubhouse and of course someone with a lot of sensitivity for players and their leadership.
“There’s a lot I’m looking for. I mean, he has to know the game. He must be able to lead a bullpen and, most importantly, he must have leadership skills. I’m looking for someone I can get along with and communicate well with.”
Brown said he is still gathering names of potential candidates and plans to “cast a net and start here soon.” Asked if it was possible he could begin interviewing candidates at next week’s general manager’s meetings in Arizona, Brown said “yes.”
The Astros are expected to interview internal candidates Joe Espada, the team’s bench coach, and Omar López, the third base coach. Other candidates could include D-Backs coach Jeff Banister and A’s manager Mark Kotsay, both previously interviewed in Houston, as well as Brad Ausmus, a former finalist in the Astros’ search for a manager and GM.
Brown, who was hired from Atlanta, could also take a look at Braves coaches Walt Weiss and Eric Young, who was a high school teammate of Brown’s. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday that Brewers manager Craig Counsell has drawn interest from the Astros.
“Prior leadership experience would be good, but not necessary,” Brown said.
When asked what his priorities will be this offseason in terms of roster construction, Brown said the bullpen (Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and likely Hector Neris are free agents) and adding a backup catcher behind Yainer Diaz. He didn’t rule out bringing back veteran Martín Maldonado, a free agent, for the role.
“All the guys that we have that are either free agents or their contract is up, we’ll talk and communicate with their agents and some players,” Brown said.
Brown remains optimistic about his young starters, which include Hunter Brown, JP France, Ronel Blanco and junior Spencer Arrighetti. Injured starters Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are expected to return from their injuries next year, joining a rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and José Urquidy.
“I think the rotation is a place where I think we’ll be fine,” Brown said. “As I said, we are good enough to win a division and win a game away from home [from the World Series].”