HOUSTON -- James Click, who helped shape the Rays' front office for the past 14 years, was tabbed by Astros owner Jim Crane to become the club's new general manager on Monday. Crane will be criticized for firing Click, but its hardly unprecedented. I know both were in due to the situation at time. 2022 salary: To be determined, possibly by arbitrationContract: 1 year, $1.1 millionHas two more years of arbitration. But Crane's willingness to cut off such a talented figure certainly will raise red flags around the league, a stink that may prove hard to ward off, says Rosenthal. Mr. Click was with the Rays for 15 years. Crane and Click spoke again on Friday morning. Crane hired Dusty as he wanted a steady hand for the team and someone that could also handle the media. Put in context, Tampas opening-day payroll in 2019 was $64,178,722, while Houston will pay the trio of Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Jose Altuve nearly $87 million in 2020. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Yankees should be all over this but rumors suggest Cashman has already re-upped for another 5. Houston Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia (77) walks back to the mound after striking out Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler (12) during the first inning of Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Reports surfaced during the Astros playoff run that owner Jim Crane had concerns in reference to James Clicks reliance on analytics. MORE:The 11 most intriguing MLB trade candidates this offseason. Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) listens to the National Anthem before Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Register for a free SBJ account to unlock one extra article per month. With a 90-50 record thus far this season, the Astros have the best record in the American League, and are again top contenders to win another championship. In a recent podcast appearance, The Athletics Ken Rosenthal implied that some postseason success could be a necessity for Click, as there could be some [front office] maneuvering if the Astros sputter in the playoffs.. Deflategate again? Crane, knowing that Click would reject the offer, walked away too. HaloHeavenJJ, what do ya say, Jose Mota GM? 2023 Leaders Group. Seemed like a my crap dont stink and Im smarter than everyone else in the room type of person. Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you. Houston #Astros owner Jim Crane spoke with manager Dusty Baker and GM James Click on Monday and plans to formally extend each of them a contract for the 2023 season in quest for back-to-back. Am I close? We present them here for purely educational purposes. James Click, the architect of Houston's championship-winning roster, is stepping away, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Im surprised Lunhow hasnt been offered another GM job. LAS VEGAS The cold-hearted truth is that Houston Astros owner Jim Crane wanted to fire general manager James Click long before Fridays announcement. The grass isnt always greener, and a bird in the hand is -by far worth one in the bush. Luhnow won with sign stealing. Houston #Astros GM James Click actually was fired. He was offered a one-year contract and raise from his $1 million salary on Monday, turned it down in pursuit of a longer contract, and was dismissed Friday after publicly airing his grievances at the GM meetings, Nightengale wrote on Twitter. Javier asked for $3.5 million while Houston offered $3. Is really like the Os to just go ahead and give Elias and Sid a 10 year deal. let us know if you find any errors, updates, or corrections, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Click's contract expired Oct. 31 but he "spent the past three days at the general manager's meetings in Las Vegas." I dont see how Hinch was hired while Luhnow still isnt a GM. Justin Verlander, right, has expressed his intention to pitch in 2021 to Astros general manager James Click. It never seemed to hurt him! Average MLB salary rose to record $4.22M in '22. But how much will we have with them. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. Click, in his first stint as a general manager, must also navigate the impending free agency of an entire starting outfield including franchise cornerstone George Springer after the 2020 season. However, it made for an uneasy balance, one that further tipped over when Click brought in 11 scouts and two assistant GMs last offseason (all on Crane's dime). Click just came in. Get viral MLB graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Assistant GM Scott Powers, who was hired along with Andrew Ball during the off-season, was also fired. If Dusty retires, Id think the reins get handed to Espada. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. It would be difficult to blame Click if he told Crane to stick his offer you-know-where. And he let his frustrations be known during league-wide GM meetings, something that is believed to have precipitated Crane's decision to let his GM go. Players say a lot of things. Houston #Astros GM James Click actually was fired. Click's departure is a shock, particularly for an organization that seems so committed to continuity. Baseball is a cold sport and it doesn't sit around waiting for anyone to grieve. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. No probably about it. If Crane was indeed considering a change, it would immediately make Houston one of the most sought-after employment destinations in baseball for any general manager. The Astros are set up to be contenders for some time to come thanks to their fantastic core of both established and young talent and that could also factor into Cranes logic in perhaps wanting to move on. Much of the Astros roster was already in the organization before Click was hired, so it is possible Crane could see him as something of a steward of Luhnows work. Given the rather rushed circumstances behind Click and Bakers hirings, Crane might prefer to take more time in a longer search to find the leader (or leaders) of the next chapter of the Astros future. Houston Astros center fielder Jose Siri (26) sits in the dugout before Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 at Truist Park in Atlanta. Click was deeply offended, considering GMs usually receive multi-year extensions after successful seasons, and departed the annual GM Meetings in Las Vegas without a deal. If widespread cheating was anything more than myth, wouldnt every team have blown the whistle on each other? You just have to take it all on balance.. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. Given his extensive technological and analytical background, Click should mesh seamlessly with the remaining members of Luhnows baseball operations team. On occasion, we have estimated arbitration eligibility. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Houston Astros relief pitcher Yimi Garcia (93) reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Boston Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo (39) during the third inning in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at Fenway Park in Boston. The Astros countered with a $5 million offer. 6:14pm: The Astros have decided upon James Click as their new general manager, per . Brown, 55, brings a more seasoned and traditional scouting background to the job than his most recent predecessors, Click and Jeff Luhnow, who were hired at 42 and 44 years old, respectively. Probably? Click, meanwhile, is known to take a more holistic view, one that lends itself to slower, but more calculated, decisions. Crane consented, but insisted it would be only for one year, the same length as manager Dusty Baker's deal, and a raise from his $1 million salary. However, Click's standing around the league made that contract offer particularly the contract length insulting. But while Luhnow had Cranes trust, Click never did, and the chasm only grew during the three years. In stark contrast, Click now will oversee a team projected to spend more than $220 million. All rights reserved. Click publicly voiced his displeasure at his press briefing on Tuesday in a room full of other American League GMs, saying what everyone knew: He and Crane often had a difference of opinion. Theres some things we do very differently. He hasnt been accepted back yet. Click turned down the team's offer "in pursuit of a longer contract" (TWITTER, 11/11). Cheating is a part of baseball and as much as I enjoy making fun of trashtros for getting caught. James Click is now a free agent. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. The pair's relationship began to fray a bit last season, as Crane got more heavily involved in decisions, and Click's departure was assured when Crane offered just a one-year contract in the days after the Astros' World Series title. Weird James Click took his first FO job with the Rays in 2006, the same year Click starring Adam Sandler came out. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? You see, despite being regarded as one of the best minds in baseball currently, Click wasn't making a monumental salary as the Astros' GM. For a first-timer, it is astounding. The Astros initially said they "will not enter into a [contract] renewal for the 2023 season" with Click. Can't become a free agent until after 2025 season, 2022 salary: To be determined, pre-arbitrationContract: 1 year, $580,000Still has to go through arbitration. Last season, only four franchises had a lower opening-day payroll than the Rays. Dusty took on a job that nobody else wanted. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2022/11/11/Astros-James-Click-out-as-GM.aspx. Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick (20) watches from the dugout as the Atlanta Braves celebrate their World Series title with a 7-0 win of Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston Astros center fielder Kyle Tucker (30) looks back at the dugout after hitting a double during the seventh inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021 at Truist Park in Atlanta. 8:28pm: Crane doesnt sound as if hes leaning towards a leadership change, telling Mark Berman of Fox 26 hes aware both contracts are up and well address them at the end of the season. Timely, daily updates provide the latest developments and news relied upon by industry leaders. Wouldnt be surprised if he is the Commish one day. Im just shooting off. Click and owner Jim Crane reportedly had differing viewpoints on baseball operations which originally sparked rumors of Clicks potential departure. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that Click was "offered a one-year contract and raise from his $1 million salary on Monday, turned it down in pursuit of a longer contract, and was. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. F1 and IndyCar start their seasons, the Rams partner with KAGR and Athletes Unlimited celebrates its anniversary with an expanded Nike partnership. I could understand someone in the front office not being privy to cheating but not the head coach. Crane privately interviewed several candidates to replace Click last winter in which they would work under Click for one year, and then likely assume the GM duties. Meet the Astros prospect tearing up Spring Training, sign up for the Launch Pad newsletter here. Commissioner Rob Manfred admonished the baseball operations culture under Luhnow as insular and problematic, a stereotype Crane disagrees with but Click must now correct. Click was hired in February 2020 -- a few days after Baker -- in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal that cost manager A.J. Crane didnt budge from his original offer. He and Williams are the only active heads of baseball operations who are Black. Coming in at $195.8 million for the 2021 season, the Astros will have the fourth-largest payroll based on average annual value (AAV) in Major League Baseball. Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Who is Justin Dirden? He was offered a one-year contract and raise from his $1 million salary on Monday, turned it down in pursuit of a longer contract, and. Early life [ edit] Dusty has done both. Certainly, Click wasnt consulted, asked his input, and was not part of the negotiations to bring him back. Chandler Rome joined the Houston Chronicle in 2018 to cover the Astros after spending one year in Tuscaloosa covering Alabama football - during which Nick Saban asked if he attended college. Update: A recent report from Bob Nightengale stated that Click actually was fired.. He rejected Clicks trade for Cubs catcher Willson Contreras for pitcher Jose Urquidy at this trade deadline, and grimaced at other moves that backfired. . Click interviewed for the position last week. Churchill Downs has been home to some of the most incredible moments in sports history. The sports consensus top prospect, Wander Franco, is in Tampas organization. It did take guts to take the job. Click was quickly hired in February 2020 and admirably continued the run of success started by Luhnow. Baseball America ranked the Rays farm system baseballs best before last season. 2022 salary: $5 millionContract: 3 years, $23.5 millionCan become a free agent after 2022 season, or can exercise player option and become a free agent after 2023 season. But "differences" between Crane and Click "grew during his three-year tenure" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/11). Click was still in Las Vegas without a contract. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) watches from the dugout before the first inning of Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Acquiring Greinke and Verlander has gutted the Astros farm system, a problem Click must solve without first- or second-round draft picks in 2020 or 2021. He is a respected leader who has progressed in this game across all aspects of baseball operations, and he has built great relationships with both front office and clubhouse personnel.. Go read MLBs report. Luhnow and Hinch were each suspended one year in January2020, and Crane fired them hours later. @Samuel, Stroh All four were rebuilding. Certainly, he was looking forward to the day he could have someone else in the role that would earn his respect. The Blue Jays have hired former Astros GM James Click to be the team's new vice president of baseball strategy. He certainly wasnt going to be around for the 2024 season. Return to Top. That difficulty is compounded by the timing of the departure, only days from the opening of spring training. Candidly, when you get to the GM meetings, youre so focused on your own stuff.. Los Angeles Dodgers first-year GM Brandon Gomes played for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2011-15 when Click was in the organization. However, many people around the MLB world expected Click to return following the Astros World Series victory. Houston hired Dusty Baker last week to replace Hinch. While the club remains heavily dependent on players acquired by Luhnow - 2022 postseason hero Jeremy Pea was drafted by his regime - Click augmented the group sufficiently to construct the 2022 World Series champions. The Astros are a progressive and innovative organization with a deeply talented group in the front office. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. About 12 hours after the Astros lost the World Series to the Atlanta Braves, the Major League Baseball Players Association published a list of 160 players who were declared free agents Wednesday. The intrigue now is who comes in to replace Click, inheriting a juggernaut, a team that has two World Series titles, four American League pennants, and six consecutive American League Championship Series appearances. But overall I think people in Houston have no quarrel with the job he has done. Cant have them back. Four days later, Click came aboard. Only six days after the Astros won the World Series, this move officially ends "months of intensifying speculation about his future" and furthers a "bizarre front-office saga within one of the sport's most dominant franchises." Doesnt mean it was true or that anyone believed it for that matter. Luhnow remade the Astros' franchise and, in a sense, the industry by fusing his consulting background and baseball acumen to create a player acquisition monster that the club still benefits from as it aims for a seventh consecutive trip to the American League Championship Seriesthis year. The Stros record at home that year was worse than it was on the road. Follow Nightengale on Twitter:@Bnightengale. He just moved his family to Houston. Assistant general manager Pete Putila is renowned for his tech-heavy work in player development. 3 of 6 4 of 6 FILE - Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz reacts on the sideline after throwing an interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns . The vacancy came up 3 years after the cheating scandal took place, and just weeks after the Stros had been to their 2nd World Series. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. (106-56, 1st place in AL West). Crane consented, but insisted it would be only for one year, the same length as manager Dusty Bakers deal, and a raise from his $1 million salary. Houston Astros relief pitcher Phil Maton (88) walks back to the dugout after Atlanta Braves pinch hitter Joc Pederson (22) fouls out to Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) to end the sixth inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021 at Truist Park in Atlanta. Can become a free agent after 2022 season. The team's 106 regular-season wins in 2022 were the second-most . I tend toward a more deliberate approach. They didnt. Problem solved. (MLB doesnt want Cuban.) (AP Photo/David J. Phillip). Rumor has it Colorado used a massage gun on the bench. Just saying.. How is it prolonged when the off season hasnt even arrived yet? He reportedly rejected a one-year contract extension. Definitely dont want to lose him. Hes not a good manager. Hes awesome. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group|Powered by, Signed a 5 year $64 million contract extension with Houston (HOU), Signed a 1 year $5 million contract with Houston (HOU), settling in arbitration, Signed a minor league contract with Houston (HOU), Est. You see, despite being regarded as one of the best minds in baseball currently, Click wasn't making a monumental salary as the Astros' GM. This winter, the Boston Red Sox hired Chaim Bloom, formerly Tampas senior vice president of baseball operations, to run their baseball operations. Maybe he shouldnt care. He did a great job in Tampa when he was there, and hes really thought of highly by his peers, including myself.. The abundance of resources does little to lessen the difficult task Click inherits. Click, hired immediately in the aftermath of the sign-stealing scandal that marred Houston's 2017 title, experienced that difficulty firsthand. The Astros continued their success without them, advancing to within one game of the World Series in 2020, reaching the World Series last year, and winning it this year. The Rays consistently spend far less than American League East brethren Boston and the New York Yankees but have contended alongside them for most of Clicks upper-management tenure. The Houston Astros' three-month era of general manager-by-committee helmed by owner Jim Crane has ended. @dirkg As a Yankees fan, I begrudgingly agree. 6:50pm: The exact terms of James Click's deal with the Astros weren't publicized when he was hired in February 2020, but Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports that Click's contract. Last year's average salary was calculated by the union at $4,222,193, up from $3,679,335 in 2021. Jim Crane struck quickly, selecting a general manager who aligns almost perfectly with the analytical methods that made the Astros the envy of baseball. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Astros owner Jim Crane hired Click in February 2020, following MLB's punishments from the sign-stealing scandal. 2023 Leaders Group. The Yankees taught Carlos Beltran, Beltran taught Alex Cora and the Astros. Major League Baseball senior vice president Peter Woodfork, Kansas City Royals special assistant Gene Watson and former San Francisco Giants general manager Bobby Evans also met with Crane.