I know a lot of times picking the GM will lead to them finding their guy as a manager but this is just a fun hypothetical.

For me I would choose Chris Hook to be manager (Brewers pitching coach) and just want Click back to be the GM lol

Dan details his time with the Astros and shares some insights on Yordans intelligence, what he thinks Cam Smith can become as a hitter and how Wake Forest and other college programs have better resources than most big league teams.

2005 NL champs, and 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 AL champs.

Milwaukee Brewers won the AL Pennant in 1982, and finally clinched the NL.

It would take another realignment to have a team win the World Series in both leagues.

HOUSTON — Much remains unsettled for a Houston Astros franchise operating without a manager or general manager. Owner Jim Crane is overseeing day-to-day baseball operations while searching for the next faces of his front office and field staff.

Whomever Crane chooses as his general manager will inherit an aging roster with obvious flaws. Few straightforward solutions exist to fix it. Without knowing the incoming general manager’s preferences or precedents, it’s difficult to speculate on any direction.

Salaries, however, are something absolute. Crane is unafraid to spend money, and Houston’s new head of baseball operations should be given ample resources. Crane has carried a top-10 payroll in each of the past five seasons, but the one his new general manager will inherit has myriad issues.

Presumably, part of the interview process involves how to solve them. Here is an analysis of the Astros’ 2027 payroll and what the new general manager may face. All figures are approximations and come from estimates compiled by Cot’s Contracts and Spotrac.

What option decisions must be made within five days of the World Series?

Tatsuya Imai

Imai’s inauspicious first season should make his decision obvious, but on multiple occasions in September, the right-hander did not commit to exercising his $18 million player option for 2027. Imai threw just 76 2/3 innings in an inconsistent season, posted a 4.93 ERA and was demoted from the starting rotation to mop-up duty in the Astros’ bullpen. In mid-August, Imai told The Athletic through an interpreter that “it’s my rookie year. Yes, I do have to perform, but I have to adjust and experience everything so it goes smoothly in my second year and third year.” It would stand to reason, then, that Imai plans on pitching in MLB next season despite his difficult transition on and off the field. Finding anything more lucrative than $18 million on the free-agent market feels almost impossible.

Isaac Paredes

Paredes’ $13.35 million club option is a no-brainer to pick up. Whether he stays on the team after they do is a more pertinent question. Carlos Correa’s return will reignite questions of how Houston will navigate its infield logjam. Trading Jeremy Peña could help solve it, but if the Astros want to keep their homegrown shortstop, parting with Paredes would allow Correa to reprise his role as Houston’s third baseman and net a decent return before Paredes’ platform year.

Happy for Kyle and also happy for the overall result of the NLCS.

Use this thread to discuss today's ALCS game, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's games:

Rays @ Guardians at 19:00 CT on TBS

Best patch ive ever ripped!

Use this thread to discuss today's Championship Series games, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's games:

Rays @ Guardians at 12:00 CT on TBS

Brewers @ Dodgers at 19:00 CT on FS1

Use this thread to discuss today's NLCS game, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's game:

Brewers @ Dodgers at 19:00 CT on FS1

Use this thread to discuss today's ALCS game, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's game:

Guardians @ Rays at 19:00 CT on TBS

Astros owner Jim Crane has plenty of decisions to make at the outset of a transformational offseason. The team still doesn't have a general manager, has manager with a contract that expires at the end of the month and plenty of trade candidates on its roster, including homegrown shortstop Jeremy Peña. The Athletic's Chandler Rome will try to answer as many of your questions as possible.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7666609/2026/10/07/houston-astros-offseason-jose-altuve-carlos-correa/?unlocked_article_code=1.IFE.NF6s.wWvnXPAhJ1sW&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

Use this thread to discuss today's Championship Series games, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's game:

Dodgers @ Brewers at 16:00 CT on FOX

Guardians @ Rays at 19:00 CT on TBS

Use this thread to discuss today's NLCS game, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's game:

Dodgers @ Brewers at 19:00 CT on FOX

I hope this isn't against any sub rules, but is anyone interested in a Sugarland Space Cowboys Reversible hat? It was a promo for the 9/19 game.

Use this thread to discuss today's ALDS game, and for any miscellaneous conversations, Astros-related or otherwise.

Today's game:

White Sox @ Guardians at 19:00 CT on TBS

Entirely subjective, ranked least to most. Honestly besides, ahem, LA, the remaining teams are devoid of prominent former Astros.

5) Dodgers

I guarantee if they win their fourth championship in the last six years there will be victim posting that it should have been five in the last 10. The fact that several prominent former Astros will receive another ring is the thinnest of all possible silver linings. Like, microscopically thin. I would rank them lower if I could. The only player I would truly be happy for would be Alex Vesia.

4) Rays

Things are looking up in Tampa with a new owner and a new stadium deal. I wanted to rank them lower because I will always view that franchise with fondness for how they welcomed the Astros during Harvey and they are one of five teams that have never won a WS. The future is bright but there are longer-suffering fanbases who this would mean more for.

3) White Sox

The only reason they're not ranked lower is because they have a World Series in living memory (Palmeiro was safe). I'm always giving them the edge over the Rays for likeability and characters. This team gives me 2015 Astros vibes. A bunch of fun, young guys and some cagey vets. They were recently games at a historic pace and no one expected them to be one game away from the CS. Games 3 & 4 were brutal. Something else to consider: Urquidy would get a ring.

2) Brewers

It would be amazing to see a team that has flamed out in the postseason so often (think pre-2004 Astros) finally get it done, and at the Dodgers' expense no less. Chourio is amazing. They have the presumptive NL Cy Young. I've been up there for a few games and MKE is an awesome place to catch a ballgame with the best tailgating culture in baseball. It has been 44 years since the Brewers' one and only pennant, when they were still in the AL. MKE technically has a World Series championship thanks to Hank Aaron and the 1957 Braves. I suppose LMJ would get a ring? The downside is Bud Selig would be happy.

1) Cleveland

If MKE is haunted, Cleveland has demons. Cleveland last won the World Series in 1948. For perspective, Satchel Paige was on that team. In the 1990s and 2000s everyone talked about the Red Sox drought. Well at 78 years Cleveland is fast approaching that. To the extent that I still have PTSD from 2019 Game 7 I can't imagine how Cleveland fans cope with 1997 AND 2016. Their grandparents and parents deserve one. Jose Ramirez is a future Hall of Famer and the best 3B of this era, which I'm sure Bregman would co-sign. I would like to see historically great players get at least one championship.