Astros hires Braves scouting executive Dana Brown as new GM

The Houston Astros named Dana Brown as their new general manager on Thursday, choosing a longtime scouting executive to lead the team after firing former GM James Click, the architect of the champions. World Series 2022.

Brown, 55, served as vice president of reconnaissance for Atlanta Braves over the past four years, reached several draft selections. In particular, his 2019 draft was a godsend, netting in the starting center Michael Harris II in the third round, predict the shortstop Vaughn Grissom in round 11 and Shea langeliersAtlanta’s commercial center for Matt OlsonFirstly.

“I’m going to come in with a winning team and a big part of what I want to do is keep winning long-term,” Brown said. continued great success.”

Welcome to H-Town, Dana Brown! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/IxCZ58AACU

– Houston Astros (@astros) January 26, 2023

After interviewing a team that included former Miami GM Michael Hill, former San Francisco GM Bobby Evans and Cleveland assistant GM James Harris, the Astros selected Brown, who is currently the only Black GM in the game.

“When we did the full assessment, he was the perfect fit for us,” said owner Jim Crane.

Chicago White Sox President Kenny Williams is the other Black executive who heads a team’s baseball operations structure.

“Ultimately, I think having diversity in our sport is good for our sport,” Brown said. “I’m really excited about this opportunity and especially grateful that Jim Crane took the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, I like this guy. I like everything about him,’ and he did. roll with me.”

Brown replaces Click, whose contract expired after the Astros beat Philadelphia in the World Series. Negotiations over a new deal for Click fell through after Crane offered him a one-year contract, Which click is denied.

Click joined Houston after Crane fired GM Jeff Luhnow following the team’s sign-stealing scandal, stabilizing the organization and adding to the deep talent base Luhnow had built.

Crane served as the de facto general manager at the start of winter, negotiating free-agent deals for the first time. Jose Abreu and reliever medication Raphael Montero. He appointed assistant GM Bill Firkus as head of baseball operations and the Astros make one more move this winter when they re-sign the designated veteran player Michael Brantley.

Brown’s scouting background aligns with the direction that Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, one of Crane’s top advisors, wants to use the Astros. Brown’s resume as a reviewer will run well after 2019 or his stellar 2020 draft in which the Braves grabbed the right-hander Strider in the fourth round.

“I know there’s been some special things going on here and I really want to continue that and prolong that,” Brown said. “I’ve been playing baseball for 33 years. Baseball is all I know. It’s been my whole life, so I wanted to drop myself into this city. [and] Astros fans and let Jim Crane know he’s made a special pick.”

Previously, Brown worked as a special assistant for Toronto blue jay GM Alex Anthopoulos, whom he followed to Atlanta. They have also worked together in Montreal, where Anthopoulos is a young executive and Brown is the chief scout.

Brown said he’s previously interviewed GM jobs with the Mets and Mariners and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has told him to stay optimistic and the moment he becomes general manager will come.

“It’s pretty special,” Brown said.

Brown doesn’t have much of a connection with the Astros, but does have some. He plays baseball at Seton Hall with Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who has spent his entire career with the Astros and is a special assistant to the general manager. Brown also competed against fellow Hall of Famer and special assistant general manager Jeff Bagwell in the Cape Cod tournament during a brief minor league career.

Brown said he spoke to both of them before taking the job and also chatted with manager Dusty Baker, whom he had known for some time.

“Dusty is old-school, he cuts straight and I love that,” Brown said. “And that means I can cut straight with him.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.