HOUSTON -- The Astros and general manager Dana Brown agreed to part ways, the club announced Monday.
The decision comes a day after the Astros went 3-6 on a disappointing nine-game homestand against the Mariners, Angels and A’s, dropping them back under .500 and into a first-place tie in the American League West with the Rangers with 31 games remaining.
In a statement, the team said Brown’s responsibilities will be transitioned to assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff and senior advisor Jeff Bagwell, with owner Jim Crane overseeing baseball operations through the transition period. Brown had served as the Astros GM since Jan. 26, 2023, and was in the last year of his contract.
“Over the past four seasons, Dana has helped our organization win two division titles and has led our baseball front office through key scouting, Draft and development efforts,” Crane said in a statement. “On behalf of the Astros, I want to thank him for his commitment, energy and contributions to our organization. We wish he and his family the best.”
The Astros have gone 7-11 since the Trade Deadline, when the club added outfielder Daulton Varsho from the Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Spencer Arrighetti. The Astros tried to acquire more pitching, but Brown said the price was too high. But some in the organization wish the team would have been more aggressive to add another arm and an outfield bat, two areas which remain a huge need.
Brown, a former scout and longtime baseball executive, was hired to replace James Click, who left the club after beating the Phillies in the 2022 World Series. Brown joined the Astros after spending the previous four seasons (2019-22) as the vice president of scouting in Atlanta, where he oversaw the drafting of 2022 National League Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II and Harris' runner-up, pitcher Spencer Strider, and others.
One of Brown’s main tasks was to rebuild an Astros farm system that had been thinned in recent years by trades and graduation of players to the Major Leagues, as well as the Astros losing their first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and ‘21 MLB Drafts as a penalty for the sign-stealing scandal.
In a news conference in the spring of 2023 season, Brown said was working to sign franchise cornerstones Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker to extensions, but Bregman left for the Red Sox in free agency after the ‘24 season and Tucker was traded to the Cubs prior to the 2025 season -- the year before he was eligible for free agency
Brown did sign pitcher Cristian Javier to a five-year, $64 million deal in 2023, but that hasn’t paid off. Javier had Tommy John surgery early in the 2024 season and has a 6.47 ERA in 40 1/3 innings this year. The Astros have also been unable to sign shortstop Jeremy Peña to an extension.
Last winter, Brown sought to add starting-pitching depth and made a big splash by signing Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal in January. He has been a bust so far. Imai has a 5.32 ERA in 67 2/3 innings and has pitched three times in relief in August.
Ryan Weiss, signed to a $2.6 million deal in December after two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization, was designated for assignment after posting a 7.62 ERA in 26 innings, and offseason pitching additions Christian Roa, Nate Pearson and Roddery Muñoz (Rule 5 Draft) were DFA’d this season.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Mike Burrows, who was acquired in a three-team trade from the Pirates in December, costing the Astros' two top prospects (outfielder Jacob Melton and right-hander Anderson Brito), went 4-9 with a 5.99 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) and is on a Minor League rehab assignment at Triple-A.
Brown spent nine seasons as a special assistant to the GM for the Blue Jays and worked as the director of scouting for the Expos/Nationals from 2002-09, during which time he drafted more than 40 Major League players, including seven All-Stars. He began his scouting career with the Pirates in 1994.
“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.”