The Astros will interview Rockies assistant GM Bill Geivett for their general manager job, but Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine withdrew his name from consideration. Here's the latest on Houston's search:
- Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman declined to address the Astros' interest in him, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (on Twitter). The Astros have obtained permission to speak to Friedman.
- Royals assistant GM J.J. Picollo is drawing attention from the Astros as a GM candidate, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
I understand the Astros have asked for and received permission from the Red Sox to speak to Cherington.
isnt he red sox gm?
He is declining to address things? This could mean many things, but hopefully for the Astros’ sake, he is seriously entertaining the offer
I think the opposite….he is just going to let it disappear by not addressing it at all…
Friedman says nothing about trades, signings when it involves the Rays. Even when he’s the rumor.
What? A source?
Freidman’s mom taught him to not say anything if you can’t something nice…..
Yes, Friedman is going to leave a team he built from the ground up and is a perennial divison winner every year to go to a team that lost 106 games last season. HA!
He might leave a team that has a perennial salary dump and draws few fans, to have free rein running a club in the city he grew up in the #4 market in the US that still outdrew the Rays by nearly 7K per game when they lost 106 games.
This right here. Not to mention having the number 1 overall pick, including 3 of the first 60-70 picks in the 2012 MLB draft.
Houston is about to add substantial funds from a TV deal with Comcast, that could likely spike their payroll to the upwards of 120-130 million, once the team begins competing again.
With Jim Crane seemingly taking an approach to appease the fans, with more along the lines of “rock star” candidates for GM, he could combine his steadily growing farm system with some additional lucrative free agent signings.
The AL West could be a tough division going forward, but tell me Andrew Friedman doesn’t like a challenge. Look at all he has accomplished with a bottom five payroll and arguably the roughest place to attract fans in the league, even with a playoff club. His signing of Evan Longoria, before he spent any substantial time at the MLB level is probably the most savvy team controllable contract ever.
ANDREW FRIEDMAN, COME TO HOUSTON. WE (meaning 4 of my friends and I) WILL APPRECIATE YOU AND NOT TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED TO WATCH THE BUCCANEERS LOSE!!!
Now that I got through with my one harsh statement of the day, am I a homer or what?