The Houston Astros and general manager Dana Brown mutually agreed to part ways on Monday.
Brown, 59, had held the post since January 2023 and his contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
The Astros (65-66) have lost six of their last eight games and entered Monday tied atop the American League West with the Texas Rangers.
“Over the past four seasons, Dana has helped our organization win two division titles and has led our baseball front office through key scouting, draft and development efforts,” team owner and chairman Jim Crane said in a news release. “On behalf of the Astros, I want to thank him for his commitment, energy, and contributions to our organization. We wish he and his family the best.”
The Astros said Brown’s responsibilities will be transitioned to the assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff, and to senior advisor Jeff Bagwell. Crane will oversee baseball operations through the transition period.
“I want to thank Jim Crane for the opportunity to serve in my first role as an MLB general manager,” Brown said. “The Astros organization and the fans have welcomed me and my family, and I am grateful to have called Houston home for the past four seasons. I wish the organization well and I look forward to the future as I continue my 36-plus years in professional baseball.”
The Astros missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016. They reached the American League Championship Series in Brown’s first season in 2023, losing to the Rangers in seven games, and were swept in the wild-card round by the Detroit Tigers in 2024.
The signature move of Brown’s tenure was a December 2024 trade that sent All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and outfielder Cam Smith.
Brown worked in the front offices and scouting departments of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves before joining the Astros. In Houston, he replaced James Click, who departed just days after the Astros won the 2022 World Series.
