Wow. I guess this makes sense as a follow-up to the year-long suspensions MLB handed down, but this is clearly the Astros trying to distance themselves even more fully from what has become seen as a terrible organizational culture.
Owner Jim Crane just announced the news:
#Astros owner Jim Crane just announced the firings of Luhnow and Hinch.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2020
Astros owner Jim Crane just said he will oversee baseball operations and made reference to a general manager candidate internally. That would be Pete Putila, who was elevated this offseason to assistant GM.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2020
Get the Astros on the phone immediately, Cubs! Make a trade!!!
It’s hard to imagine the Astros will have a lot of pull in getting a top tier front office hire in place for a year or so, because not only are you coming into the stink, but you’re coming into a situation where your new org has no first or second round picks for two years.
As for manager, I presume it’s going to be bench coach Joe Espada, who is already a quality managerial candidate? (Bullet dodged by the Cubs, eh?)
In conclusion:
Sometimes I still think about this: "We're not the Cubs."
That's correct. You never were. https://t.co/L1u4M0l3cN
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) January 13, 2020