> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Astros GM Search Tracker: Latest News on Houston's Next General Manager - URL: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-gm-search-josh-barfield-and-randy-flores-join-matt-kleine-among-outside-candidates/ - Published: 2026-10-20T22:20:04.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-22T21:04:03.000Z - Description: Follow the latest on the Astros' GM search. Brewers AGM Matt Kleine appears to be the leading candidate, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports, and Rays AGM Kevin Ibach has emerged. Josh Barfield, Randy Flores, Scott Sharp, Ben Sestanovich and internal AGMs Gavin Dickey and Charles Cook are in the mix. - Author: Crawford Box Report - Tags: News *This story is being updated as the Astros' GM search develops. Last updated: Oct. 22, 2026, 3:32 PM CT.* The Astros have been without a general manager since Jim Crane fired Dana Brown in August, and the search is picking up speed. Houston could name a new GM before the end of the World Series, The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported Tuesday. Rome's reporting lists five outside candidates, and two of Houston's own assistant GMs have interviewed, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday. McTaggart [later reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine appears to be the leading candidate and that a sixth outside name, the Rays' Kevin Ibach, has emerged, according to a source. Here's everything we know, with the newest developments at the top. ## Latest updates **Oct. 22, 3:32 PM CT:** KHOU's Jeremy Booth wrote on X that Jon Daniels, the Rays senior advisor and former Rangers president of baseball operations, "declined." Booth was [replying to a viewer](https://x.com/%5FJeremyBooth/status/2113367953810882729?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) who, responding to KHOU's earlier Extra Bases post, called the segment a "nice endorsement of Ibach" and wrote that he had read Daniels was the "overall hands-down choice among peers." Booth didn't say what Daniels declined or when, and we haven't found other reporting that Daniels was a candidate for the Astros job or turned it down. Daniels removed himself from the Athletics' GM search in September, preferring to stay with the Rays, [MLB Trade Rumors reported](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/al-west-notes-daniels-suzuki-crawford-spence.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), citing USA Today's Bob Nightengale. **Oct. 22, 3:20 PM CT:** In another Extra Bases segment, Booth pushed back on the idea that Kleine's red-carpet appearance with Crane makes him the pick. "Not so fast," Booth says, [per a post from KHOU's Jason Bristol](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2113364800441127103?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), which adds that the Brewers executive "has another opportunity." The post didn't say what that opportunity is. Like Booth's earlier comments, it's an analyst's take, not new reporting. **Oct. 22, 1:46 PM CT:** On KHOU 11's new "Extra Bases" segment, KHOU baseball analyst Jeremy Booth questioned the optics of Matt Kleine appearing on a red carpet with Jim Crane while other candidates remain in contention, [per a post from KHOU's Jason Bristol](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2113341144973340970?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). It's commentary, not new reporting, but it adds to the sense that Kleine is the frontrunner after McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday that he appears to be the leading candidate. **Oct. 21, 2:31 PM CT:** Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine appears to be the leading candidate, and Rays vice president and assistant GM Kevin Ibach has emerged as a candidate, according to a source, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). McTaggart also wrote that the Astros will hire a GM before turning their attention to finding a replacement for manager Joe Espada. **Oct. 21, 8:48 AM CT:** Astros assistant GMs Gavin Dickey and Charles Cook are among those who have interviewed for the GM job, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported on X](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), citing sources. McTaggart wrote that the Astros are casting "a wide net." **Oct. 20, 8:59 PM CT:** Beat writers covering the candidates' teams added details tonight. The Chicago Sun-Times' James Fegan [reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/10/20/report-white-sox-assistant-general-manager-josh-barfield-is-a-candidate-for-astros-open-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Barfield was seen in a lengthy on-field chat with Crane at Daikin Park before the Wild Card sweep, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold [pointed to](https://x.com/dgoold/status/2112647327978803455?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Crane's St. Louis roots and his past reliance on John Mozeliak's insight, and MLB Trade Rumors [reported](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ben-sestanovich-scott-sharp-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Sharp has interviewed with at least the Mets, Giants and Rockies in recent years. **Oct. 20, 6:39 PM CT:** Rome's story [now lists five names](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112690128888160382?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Royals senior vice president and assistant GM Scott Sharp and Braves assistant GM Ben Sestanovich join Matt Kleine, Josh Barfield and Randy Flores, [per Underdog MLB's summary](https://x.com/UnderdogMLB/status/2112691845151203724?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), which describes all five as candidates who have drawn "serious interest." **Oct. 20, 4:50 PM CT:** Rome [updated his story](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112662836350746895?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) with KHOU's Jason Bristol's video of Kleine and Crane on a red carpet last week, and said he had added one more name to the Astros' list. It isn't clear whether that name was Sharp or Sestanovich. **Oct. 20, 3:51 PM CT:** In a related move, the Astros are hiring Spencer Medick as their new director of pitching, [Rome reported](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112647918243152107?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), citing sources. **Oct. 20, 2:38 PM CT:** Rome [reported](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112629516417880302?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Barfield, Flores and Kleine are in the running and that Houston could name a GM before the World Series ends. The Astros have spoken with Barfield and Flores, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-gm-rumors-josh-barfield-white-sox-randy-flores-cardinals.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). **Oct. 20, 9:35 AM CT:** USA Today's Bob Nightengale [reported](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112553268039803326?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine has emerged as a serious candidate ([our story](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/brewers-assistant-gm-matt-kleine-emerges-as-serious-candidate-for-astros-gm-job/)). ## The candidates Six outside candidates have been reported, all assistant GMs with other clubs. Rome's reporting lists the first five, and McTaggart added Ibach: - **Matt Kleine**, assistant GM, Milwaukee Brewers. He appears to be the leading candidate, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday. - **Josh Barfield**, assistant GM, Chicago White Sox - **Randy Flores**, assistant GM, St. Louis Cardinals - **Scott Sharp**, senior vice president and assistant GM, Kansas City Royals - **Ben Sestanovich**, assistant GM, Atlanta Braves - **Kevin Ibach**, vice president and assistant GM, Tampa Bay Rays. He has emerged as a candidate, according to a source, McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday. Ibach has been with the Rays for 14 seasons and was promoted to vice president and assistant GM three years ago. Crane hired another Rays executive, James Click, as GM before the 2020 season, McTaggart noted. **Internal options:** Two of the Astros' own assistant GMs have interviewed for the job, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday, citing sources, and he repeated that in [his MLB.com story](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) later in the day: - **Gavin Dickey**, assistant GM, Houston Astros. He was promoted to assistant GM in November 2023 and has been with the organization since 2011, when the Astros hired him as an area scout. He oversees player development, player personnel, minor league operations and advanced scouting, [per his Astros front-office bio](https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/front-office/gavin-dickey?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). - **Charles Cook**, assistant GM, Houston Astros. He was promoted to assistant GM in November 2022 from senior director of player evaluation, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-owner-jim-crane-plans-long-gm-search?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He is a 2015 Yale graduate who played baseball and football there, [per his Astros front-office bio](https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/front-office/charles-cook?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He joined the organization as a baseball operations apprentice in 2016, McTaggart [wrote](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Dickey, Cook and fellow assistant GM Connor Huff took on Brown's responsibilities along with senior advisor Jeff Bagwell after his exit, with Crane overseeing baseball operations, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/dana-brown-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Neither McTaggart's post nor his MLB.com story mentioned Huff or Bagwell. Before McTaggart's report, it was unclear whether the Astros were still considering any internal candidates, [per NBC Sports' summary](https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news/2026-10-20/report-astros-looking-at-outside-hires-for-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) of Rome's reporting. When Brown was fired in August, USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggested Cook and Bagwell could get serious consideration, [MLB Trade Rumors noted](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/jim-crane-discusses-astros-front-office-direction.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Huff has a particularly good relationship with Crane, [MLB Trade Rumors noted](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-gm-rumors-josh-barfield-white-sox-randy-flores-cardinals.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), which is why MLBTR cautioned that Rome's original list of three outside names wasn't necessarily the full field. That list has since grown to six outside names, and two internal candidates have interviewed. ## The timeline and what Crane has said Houston's timeline has sped up since August, when Crane fired Brown and [said the club would "take our time"](https://www.mlb.com/news/jim-crane-addresses-parting-with-dana-brown?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Now the headline on Rome's story says Houston could name a new GM before the end of the World Series. The Astros also need a manager after [parting ways with Joe Espada](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) last week. The Astros will fill the GM job before turning their attention to finding Espada's replacement, McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Wednesday. Crane, who has been in charge of baseball operations since Brown's Aug. 24 exit, is in Taiwan to promote baseball, McTaggart wrote. All six outside candidates are assistant GMs, not sitting GMs, and that fits how Crane has hired before. Jeff Luhnow, James Click and Brown were all first-time GMs from outside the organization, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/jim-crane-discusses-astros-front-office-direction.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Dickey or Cook would also be a first-time GM, but either would be Crane's first GM hire from inside the organization. ## Kleine and Crane on the red carpet [Bristol's video](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2112644607699738833?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) shows Kleine walking the red carpet with Crane at last week's Houston Sports Hall of Fame event. How much that means is anyone's guess, and Rome said as much. Asked on X whether the video made Kleine the favorite, he [replied](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112664442538479878?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that "it could be as simple as he was here for an interview that day and Jim just asked him to tag along," adding, "could be something more. I have no idea." ## Who is Matt Kleine? Kleine is an assistant GM with the Brewers and was the first outside name tied to the search, when Nightengale [reported](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112553268039803326?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) Tuesday morning that he had emerged as a serious candidate. Kleine "has been with the Brewers organization since 2007," Nightengale wrote. By Wednesday afternoon, Kleine appeared to be the leading candidate, McTaggart [reported](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Kleine, 40, is in his 20th season with the Brewers and was promoted to assistant GM on Nov. 1, 2023, McTaggart wrote. He also has a Houston connection: He interned in the Astros' media relations department in 2007\. He's one of two candidates whose teams are still playing, since the Brewers face Ibach's Rays in the World Series (more on that below). For more on his background, [read our story on Kleine](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/brewers-assistant-gm-matt-kleine-emerges-as-serious-candidate-for-astros-gm-job/). ## Who is Josh Barfield? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/11/f7/11f769ba-bd48-4f24-85bd-6d28b6c4ea38/content/images/2026/10/barfield.jpg) Josh Barfield with the Padres in 2006\. Photo: ewen and donabel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Barfield, 43, is a former big-league infielder. The Padres drafted him in the fourth round, and he debuted with San Diego in 2006 with a big rookie season, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-gm-rumors-josh-barfield-white-sox-randy-flores-cardinals.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He never matched it over parts of three more seasons and finished his career with a .264/.295/.375 line in 1,075 plate appearances. After he retired, Barfield scouted for the Diamondbacks, then moved up to assistant director of player development and, in 2019, director of player development. The White Sox hired him as an assistant GM in 2023\. He has worked on just about every part of their baseball operations, from player acquisition and scouting to player development and roster management, and helped oversee Chicago's turnaround in 2026, MLBTR wrote. That turnaround ended Houston's season. The White Sox swept the Astros in the Wild Card round, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Barfield and Crane have already crossed paths. Before the White Sox swept their way through the Wild Card round, Barfield was seen on the field at Daikin Park having a lengthy chat with Crane, the Chicago Sun-Times' James Fegan [reported](https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/10/20/report-white-sox-assistant-general-manager-josh-barfield-is-a-candidate-for-astros-open-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Fegan also wrote that Barfield, whom the White Sox hired away from his job as Arizona's director of player development in September 2023, just finished his third full season as an assistant GM, and that other clubs considered him for potential promotions last offseason as well. ## Who is Randy Flores? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/11/f7/11f769ba-bd48-4f24-85bd-6d28b6c4ea38/content/images/2026/10/flores.jpg) Randy Flores in 2016\. Photo: Johnmaxmena2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Flores, 51, pitched parts of eight big-league seasons from 2002 to 2010, mostly as a left-handed reliever for the Cardinals. He also pitched for the Rangers, Rockies and Twins. In 250 career innings he posted a 4.61 ERA with 76 holds and four saves, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-gm-rumors-josh-barfield-white-sox-randy-flores-cardinals.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He won a ring with the 2006 Cardinals and threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings that October. After his playing career, Flores earned a master's degree in education at USC while serving as an assistant baseball coach there. He then founded OnDeck Digital, a company that made video reports on amateur players and was used by as much as a third of the league in the mid-2010s. The Cardinals hired him to run their amateur scouting department late in 2015, and he has been an assistant GM for nine years. Houston isn't the only club that has looked at him. Flores drew some interest during the Mets' GM search, and he has been linked to the Angels since they named his former St. Louis boss, John Mozeliak, interim GM, MLBTR reported. There's a St. Louis connection on Houston's side, too. Crane grew up in the St. Louis area, and hiring Flores "would not be the first time" he has dipped into the Cardinals' front office, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold [wrote](https://x.com/dgoold/status/2112647327978803455?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) on X. Goold added that Crane has relied on Mozeliak's insight before. Rome's report listed Flores among the candidates drawing "serious interest" from the Astros, as Goold and the Belleville News-Democrat's Jeff Jones [noted](https://x.com/jmjones/status/2112630945882718522?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). ## Who is Scott Sharp? Sharp, 54, has spent the last two decades with the Royals, climbing to assistant GM and eventually a senior vice president role under president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ben-sestanovich-scott-sharp-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He has worked in various parts of Kansas City's baseball operations. When MLB.com wrote about him in October 2025, he had held his senior vice president and assistant GM role for the previous three seasons and had served in various assistant GM roles in Kansas City since 2015, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/colorado-rockies-interviewing-candidates-to-replace-gm-bill-schmidt?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Houston isn't the first club to look at him for a top job. Sharp has frequently drawn interest from other teams for a role running a front office and has interviewed with at least the Mets, Giants and Rockies in recent years, MLBTR reported. The Rockies interview came last October. After Bill Schmidt stepped down as Rockies GM, The Athletic reported that Colorado had interviewed Sharp for its head of baseball operations opening, MLB.com noted. The other two candidates in that report were Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman and a familiar name in Houston: former Astros GM James Click. The Rockies didn't confirm the report. ## Who is Ben Sestanovich? Sestanovich is a Harvard product who pitched for the Crimson in 2011 and went to work in the Padres' player development department after graduation, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ben-sestanovich-scott-sharp-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He has been with the Braves since December 2019, when Atlanta hired him away from the Padres as an assistant GM with an emphasis on player development, [per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution](https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-hire-ben-sestanovich-asst/HEBzxQNLRMFZ5WarPIfs5L/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He spent 10 years in San Diego's front office, working as an advance scout from 2012 to 2015 and as assistant director of player development before the Padres promoted him to director of player development ahead of the 2019 season. He's now one of five assistant GMs in Atlanta's front office, MLBTR noted. Sestanovich is well regarded around the league. Yahoo Sports [surveyed 24 MLB executives](https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/who-will-be-the-next-mlb-gm-baseball-execs-discuss-the-top-candidates-for-front-office-jobs-around-the-league-183716356.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) in September about whom they would call to lead a front office. He got four votes, tied for the third most of any candidate. Only Rays senior advisor Jon Daniels (eight) and Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes (five) got more. ## The World Series timing A hire before the World Series ends would be easiest with Barfield, Flores, Sharp or Sestanovich, since the White Sox, Cardinals, Royals and Braves are all done for the year, and the same goes for Dickey and Cook, who already work in Houston's front office. Kleine and Ibach are a different story. Their teams meet in the World Series, with Kleine's Brewers opening against Ibach's American League champion Rays on Friday, Oct. 23, at American Family Field, and a Game 7, if needed, would fall on Oct. 31, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-world-series-faq-schedule-times-teams-and-more?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). ## One hire already made: Spencer Medick The Astros aren't waiting on a GM to make every move. Houston is hiring Spencer Medick as its new director of pitching, [Rome reported](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112647918243152107?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), citing sources. Medick is a former Driveline employee who spent the past four years in the Yankees system. He was their Triple-A pitching coach last season, guiding Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the fourth-best ERA and strikeout rate per nine innings in the International League, per the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips, who [confirmed the hire](https://x.com/GaryHPhillips/status/2112655609581428803?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Medick will work in a non-uniform role overseeing the team's pitching development, [MLB Trade Rumors reported](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ben-sestanovich-scott-sharp-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). It's a big job for a staff that needed help in 2026\. The Astros used a club-record 19 starting pitchers and walked an AL-leading 650 batters this season, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). *Sources: [MLB.com (McTaggart, Oct. 21)](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-general-manager-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Brian McTaggart on X](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Astros front office (Dickey)](https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/front-office/gavin-dickey?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Astros front office (Cook)](https://www.mlb.com/astros/team/front-office/charles-cook?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Cook promotion, 2022)](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-owner-jim-crane-plans-long-gm-search?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Chandler Rome on X (GM search)](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112629516417880302?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Chandler Rome on X (story update)](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112662836350746895?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Chandler Rome on X (five names)](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112690128888160382?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Underdog MLB on X](https://x.com/UnderdogMLB/status/2112691845151203724?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Chandler Rome on X (Medick)](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2112647918243152107?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Jason Bristol on X](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2112644607699738833?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Jason Bristol on X (Extra Bases)](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2113341144973340970?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Jason Bristol on X (Extra Bases, Oct. 22 PM)](https://x.com/JBristolKHOU/status/2113364800441127103?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Jeremy Booth on X](https://x.com/%5FJeremyBooth/status/2113367953810882729?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Bob Nightengale on X](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112553268039803326?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Brown)](https://www.mlb.com/news/dana-brown-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Crane)](https://www.mlb.com/news/jim-crane-addresses-parting-with-dana-brown?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Espada)](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (World Series)](https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-world-series-faq-schedule-times-teams-and-more?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Rockies, October 2025)](https://www.mlb.com/news/colorado-rockies-interviewing-candidates-to-replace-gm-bill-schmidt?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/who-will-be-the-next-mlb-gm-baseball-execs-discuss-the-top-candidates-for-front-office-jobs-around-the-league-183716356.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution](https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-hire-ben-sestanovich-asst/HEBzxQNLRMFZ5WarPIfs5L/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB Trade Rumors (Oct. 20)](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-gm-rumors-josh-barfield-white-sox-randy-flores-cardinals.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB Trade Rumors (Sharp and Sestanovich)](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ben-sestanovich-scott-sharp-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Chicago Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/10/20/report-white-sox-assistant-general-manager-josh-barfield-is-a-candidate-for-astros-open-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Derrick Goold on X](https://x.com/dgoold/status/2112647327978803455?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Jeff Jones on X](https://x.com/jmjones/status/2112630945882718522?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Gary Phillips on X](https://x.com/GaryHPhillips/status/2112655609581428803?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB Trade Rumors (August)](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/jim-crane-discusses-astros-front-office-direction.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB Trade Rumors (Daniels)](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/al-west-notes-daniels-suzuki-crawford-spence.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news/2026-10-20/report-astros-looking-at-outside-hires-for-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Crawford Box Report (Kleine)](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/brewers-assistant-gm-matt-kleine-emerges-as-serious-candidate-for-astros-gm-job/).*