While the Houston Astros are engaged in an intense American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins, Monday morning’s major headline wasn’t about their offensive struggles or Carlos Correa’s retaliation against his old team. Instead, the spotlight was on a significant change in the Astros’ front office, which surprised many during their off-day.
Based on information from The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Houston has decided to separate from assistant general manager Bill Firkus and farm director Sara Goodrum. The Astros’ general manager, Dana Brown, verified to The Athletic that the team chose to “move in another direction,” as mentioned in the article.
It’s partially unexpected for the Astros to make adjustments within their front office. Brown, an ex-player and former college teammate of Craig Biggio with extensive scouting experience, joined Houston at the end of January. Since his recruitment came so late in the off-season, the former Atlanta Braves executive had limited impact on the 2023 lineup. He did make his presence felt with some mid-season decisions, including reacquiring potential Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in a trade with the New York Mets. Nevertheless, the concluding months of 2023 were always anticipated when Brown began shaping the organization’s future.
Firkus, after being promoted in the previous offseason, became a crucial figure in the Astros’ front office, dedicating a decade to the organization. He was among the few remaining baseball operations staff before Houston’s dominant era. Goodrum, when she joined the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, positioned herself as one of the top female executives in baseball. However, considering Brown’s extensive experience in scouting—previously being the vice president of scouting for the Braves between 2019 and 2022 and starting his MLB career as a scout in the 1990s—it seems he might be seeking a new direction in player development.
The Astros aim to further their MLB playoff journey today, squaring off against the Twins in the third game of the ALDS. Currently, the series stands even at 1-1.