HOUSTON (AP) — Astros general manager James Crick will not be given a new deal, a highly unusual move the team announced Friday, just six days after Houston won the World Series. .
Crick was hired from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2020 season and seemed increasingly distant from owner Jim Crane. Crick, 44, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Crick said Tuesday at a general managers meeting in Las Vegas that his contract expires on Oct. 31 and the situation has not been resolved. He also said little advance notice was given to Wednesday’s press conference at which the Astros announced that manager Dusty Baker would be returning on a one-year deal.
Crane was asked multiple times Wednesday about Click’s status and said the two have been in talks. Crane was also asked how he evaluated the job Crick took over after Jeff Luhnow was fired following the team’s sign-stealing scandal.
“We’re looking into it,” Crane said. “But I think James did a good job. He stepped in and made some good moves. We’ll sit back and see how it ends with James.”
Crane was then asked if he thought the organization was better off with Click at the helm. This is no exception. I’m never satisfied If I had been happy, we might not be where we are now. But I pressure everyone to get better from top to bottom…so I’m always trying to improve. So the standards apply to everyone. ”
Crick spent 14 years with the Rays, starting out as the Coordinator of Baseball Operations before becoming the team’s Director of Baseball Research and Development and Director of Baseball Operations. He spent his three seasons as vice president of baseball operations before Houston hired him.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports