HOUSTON -- Former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was interviewing with the Astros for their vacant general manager position, a source told MLB.com. Rizzo arrived in Houston late Monday and was scheduled to meet with Astros owner Jim Crane on Tuesday at Daikin Park.
The Astros have cast a wide net in their search for a new GM, with several candidates among up-and-coming officials from other teams, as well as assistant GMs Gavin Dickey and Charles Cook. The search is close to wrapping up, with Houston aiming to have a GM in place before the General Managers Meetings begin on Nov. 10 in Las Vegas.
Rizzo, 65, was let go by the Nationals midway through the 2025 season after 17 seasons as head of Washington’s baseball operations that included a World Series victory over the Astros in 2019. The Nationals have not had a winning season since that run.
Rizzo was hired by the club in 2006 and was promoted from assistant GM to GM/senior vice president on Aug. 20, 2009, to GM/executive vice president of baseball operations on Oct. 19, 2010, and to GM on Aug. 1, 2013. During Rizzo’s tenure, the Nationals won the NL East title in 2012, ‘14, ‘16 and ‘17.
Perhaps the two most interesting names at the forefront of Houston’s search are Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine and White Sox assistant GM Josh Barfield, who grew up in the Houston area. Kleine was in Houston earlier this month and appeared with Crane at the Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 induction, which included Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Billy Wagner.
Crane has been in charge of baseball operations since Dana Brown and the Astros parted ways on Aug. 24. The Astros will fill the role of GM before turning their attention to finding a replacement for manager Joe Espada, whose contract wasn’t renewed following three seasons.
Among others who have drawn serious interest, according to The Athletic, are Royals senior vice president Scott Sharp, Braves assistant GM Ben Sestanovich and Cardinals assistant GM Randy Flores, a former big league pitcher.
Another name to emerge as a candidate, according to a source, is Kevin Ibach of the American League-champion Rays. He’s been with the Rays for 14 seasons and was promoted to vice president/assistant GM three years ago. Crane hired James Click from the Rays to be the club’s GM prior to the 2020 season.
Dickey, hired by the Astros as a scout in 2011, was promoted to assistant GM three years ago and oversees the Minor Leagues. Cook, a Yale graduate, joined the organization as a baseball operations apprentice in 2016 and has worked his way up, getting promoted to assistant GM four years ago.
Kleine, 40, who interned in the Astros’ media relations department in 2007, is in his 20th season with the Brewers and was promoted to assistant GM on Nov. 1, 2023. His primary areas of focus include roster construction, Major League transactions, financial planning, player evaluation, contract negotiation, staffing and procedural compliance. He also oversees the team's salary arbitration practice.