What the Astros’ Next General Manager Inherits This Offseason

The Houston Astros are looking for a new general manager after parting ways with former GM Dana Brown back in August. The interview process has begun, with candidates including Mike Rizzo, per USA Today.

The new GM will inherit a little more than a to-do list. He inherits a payroll, a roster, and an empty manager's chair.

Here is a look at the four biggest challenges awaiting Houston's next GM.

1. A roughly $57 million arbitration class

Several players are heading into salary arbitration, which means Houston will have to figure out how much it’s willing to spend to keep some important pieces of its roster. MLB Trade Rumors projects 11 Astros at about $57.2 million combined. The big four are Isaac Paredes at $15 million (club option $13.35 million), Jeremy Peña at $13.1 million, Hunter Brown at $6.8 million, and Yainer Diaz at $6.3 million.

2. The infield

One of the biggest questions to answer is how to navigate this crowded infield. With all the talent, giving each of these players the playing time they deserve will be tricky. Trading Christian Walker could help solve their crowded infield problem. The question is whether his inconsistency outweighs what he brings to the lineup. Of Walker, Paredes, and Peña, Walker is the oldest and costs the most, but that is something the new GM will have to weigh before making a decision. Walker is owed $20 million in 2027, the final year of his three-year, $60 million contract.

3. The pitching depth

The Astros used a club-record 19 starting pitchers. Peter Lambert (3.82 ERA) led the team in innings, and Tatsuya Imai (4.93 ERA) and Mike Burrows (5.99 ERA) struggled. They were hit with a huge number of injuries, and a long list of pitchers went down throughout the season. Lambert cannot hold this staff together all on his own, and they need a few more strong, consistent arms. That is another tall order the new GM will be inheriting.

4. An empty manager’s chair

The Astros organization decided not to renew Joe Espada's contract, which was set to expire at the end of October. The new GM will enter the new position with the manager's chair empty. That means helping find a manager who can work with the front office, develop the team's younger players, and get Houston back on track. It is another major decision that could shape the team's future.

There are a lot of obstacles for whoever takes on the position. They need someone who can build, and someone who can really just hit the reset button and make the crucial decisions that need to be made. The first deadline he faces is the November 20 tender deadline.