First-Place Astros Part Ways With GM Dana Brown

Brown, 59, was hired by Houston to replace James Click, who left the club after beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 World Series. Crane and Bagwell spent the bulk of that offseason running the baseball operations department, notably signing Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero to pricey three-year contracts before Brown took over.

While Brown had never run a baseball operations department beforehand, he had extensive experience in talent evaluation — a background that especially appealed to an Astros team in need of rebuilding its farm system. His career included stops with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2002-09) and Toronto Blue Jays (2010-18) before serving as the Atlanta Braves’ vice president of scouting (2019-22).

Before the 2023 season, Brown indicated he was working to sign franchise cornerstones Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker to extensions. Bregman ultimately left in free agency after the 2024 season, while Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs ahead of his contract year in 2025. The Astros have also been unable to sign shortstop Jeremy Peña to an extension.

Brown did sign pitcher Cristian Javier to a five-year, $64 million deal in 2023, but that contract has backfired since the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. Other big contracts handed out during Brown’s tenure as Astros GM include closer Josh Hader (five-years, $95 million), first baseman Christian Walker (three-years, $60 million) and starter Tatsuya Imai (three-years, $54 million with two opt-outs).

Notable trades under Brown include sending Tucker to the Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski; acquiring Yusei Kikuchi as a rental at the 2024 trade deadline; and, most recently, swapping Spencer Arrighetti for Daulton Varsho. MLB Pipeline currently ranks the Astros’ farm system 29th out of 30 teams.

The Astros reached the ALCS in Brown’s first season as GM and captured another division title the following year. In 2025, they finished 87-75, missing the postseason for the first time in nine years. Houston is currently 65-66 with 31 games remaining.

“I want to thank Jim Crane for the opportunity to serve in my first role as an MLB general manager,” Brown said in a statement released by the team. “The Astros organization and the fans have welcomed me and my family, and I am grateful to have called Houston home for the past four seasons. I wish the organization well, and I look forward to the future as I continue my 36-plus years in professional baseball.”