While the Houston Astros look to replace manager Joe Espada this offseason, the team is also looking to find a new general manager after the firing of Dana Brown last season. As the Astros try to find a sure-fire hire for the general manager role, there is one candidate that the team is interviewing who has a history of even beating the team in the World Series.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Houston will be interviewing Mike Rizzo, who had been the general manager and president of baseball operations with the Washington Nationals from 2013 to 2025. In 2019, Rizzo was the “architect” behind bringing the Nationals a World Series title in 2019, beating the Astros.
“Mike Rizzo, the architect of the Washington Nationals’ World Series championship, now would like to turn around the fate of the franchise the Nationals defeated to accomplish their historic feat,” Nightengale wrote.
“Rizzo is interviewing for the Houston Astros’ vacant general manager job Monday in Houston, two persons with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports,” Nightengale continued.
Mike Rizzo has a “deep desire” to work for the Astros
Rizzo had been with the Nationals since 2007 as an assistant general manager, and now looks to join the Astros in bringing the franchise back to relevance. Nightengale would even report that Rizzo “has since informed friends of his deep desire to work” for Houston, having a “strong respect” for team owner Jim Crane.
Article Continues Below“Rizzo, 65, has since informed friends of his deep desire to work for the Astros since the firing of GM Dana Brown,” Nightengale wrote. “Rizzo has strong respect for Astros owner Jim Crane, believing they’ll continue to spend money to be a contender, having reached the postseason nine times in the past 10 years – including eight division titles. Rizzo and his family also live in West Palm Beach, Florida, site of the Astros' spring-training complex.”
It remains to be seen if Rizzo will be hired by the Astros, as the team looks to improve after finishing with an 81-81 record, winning the NL Central, but being eliminated in the wild-card series by the Chicago White Sox.