Click was offered a one-year deal to remain with the organization through 2023, but declined. Manager Dusty Baker, 73, accepted a one-year contract to return earlier this week. The Yankees’ Larry MacPhail was the last head of baseball operations to lose his job immediately after winning the 1947 World Series — he resigned.
History
Astros owner Jim Crane hired Click in January 2020 to stabilize the Astros in the wake of the record-stealing scandal. Click did just that, amassing the most regular-season wins in the American League during his three-year tenure, capping an 11-2 postseason with the 2022 World Series title. After Friday’s announcement, Crane thanked Click for that contribution to the team. “We are grateful for all of James’ contributions,” Crane said. “We’ve had great success in each of his three seasons and James has been a big part of that success. I want to thank him personally and wish him and his family all the best.” The Astros also fired assistant general manager Scott Powers, according to a source familiar with the decision. Powers was a former Dodgers executive who was hired by Click in January.
Was this expected?
The uncertainty surrounding Click was the talk of the executive floor at this week’s GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Rival executives were dismayed that Crane only extended Click’s one-year deal despite the team’s success. On the surface, the Astros’ running back looks like one of the top positions in the game. But Crane’s reluctance to reward an employee like Click — who inherited an excellent team from his fired predecessor Jeff Luhnow, kept the core intact and built a potent bullpen in 2022 — was well noted by other executives. It will be interesting to see how the subsequent search for a new general manager goes. The Astros have already lost key personnel in Pete Putila and Oz Ocampo this winter. — McCullough
Who will Crane hire next?
There will be speculation about Crane trying to hire David Stearns, the former Luhnow lieutenant who left to run Milwaukee’s baseball operations department. Stearns resigned from that position earlier this winter, citing burnout. He is under contract with the Brewers through 2023.— McCullough
What’s up with the click?
As for Click, he cannot immediately move on to another assignment as general manager. But he was a well-regarded figure even before he took over in Houston. His former Tampa Bay colleagues currently run the Dodgers, Red Sox and Brewers — in addition to the Rays. Click could spend time in an advisory role before managing another club, as Alex Anthopoulos did for the Dodgers between his time in Toronto and Atlanta. — McCullough
Required reading
(Photo: Troy Taormina/USA Today)
