Astros interviewing ex-Nationals GM Mike Rizzo for GM job, USA Today reports

The Astros' GM search has a new, and very familiar, name. Former Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo is interviewing for Houston's vacant GM job Monday in Houston, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported early Monday, citing "two persons with direct knowledge." Nightengale shared the story on X at 5:24 a.m. CT.

Rizzo, 65, "has since informed friends of his deep desire to work for the Astros since the firing of GM Dana Brown in August," Nightengale wrote. He has "strong respect" for Jim Crane and believes the Astros will keep spending to contend, according to the report. Rizzo and his family also live in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the Astros and Nationals share a spring training complex.

Who is Mike Rizzo?

Rizzo joined the Nationals as an assistant GM in 2006, replaced Jim Bowden as GM in 2009 and became president of baseball operations in 2013, Nightengale wrote. He drafted Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with back-to-back No. 1 overall picks, and Washington won four NL East titles in six years. The run ended with a title in 2019, when the Nationals beat the Astros in seven games.

He also made the 2022 trade that sent Juan Soto to San Diego for a package that included James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore. Washington fired Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 6, 2025, with the team at 37-53. He hasn't held a front office job since. In June, he worked as an analyst on MLB Network's Draft Combine coverage, per Sports Business Journal.

He has had his eye on Houston for a while

This isn't the first time Nightengale has tied Rizzo to the Astros. In September, he reported that Rizzo had formally interviewed with the Athletics and "also has strong interest in the Houston Astros' GM vacancy." On Monday, Nightengale wrote that Rizzo "pulled himself out of the running" in the Athletics' search "after his interview, saying his preference was to join the Astros."

Where the search stands

Nightengale also wrote that the Astros have interviewed Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine, whom MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reported last week appears to be the leading candidate. The Astros' "preference is to have a GM in place by the time of the GM meetings on Nov. 9 in Las Vegas," Nightengale wrote. The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported last week that Houston could name a GM before the World Series ends.

Rizzo would be a different kind of hire for Crane. Jeff Luhnow, James Click and Brown were all first-time GMs from outside the organization, per MLB Trade Rumors, and the other reported outside candidates are assistant GMs. Rizzo has run a front office for more than 15 years and won a World Series doing it, against Houston.

For every name in the mix, see our Astros GM search tracker.

Around the MLB

• Ross Newhan dies at 89. The Hall of Fame baseball writer died Sunday morning, the Dodgers said. Newhan started out covering the Angels for the Long Beach Press-Telegram in 1961, joined the Los Angeles Times in 1967 and became its national baseball writer in 1985. He won the 2000 BBWAA Career Excellence Award, per the Hall of Fame.
• Rocco Baldelli withdraws from the Mariners' search. The former Twins manager pulled out of Seattle's managerial search, citing "family considerations at this moment in time," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday night. Former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs player development director Jason Kanzler are the only other publicly known candidates, per MLB Trade Rumors.

Sources: USA Today (Nightengale, Oct. 26), Bob Nightengale on X, USA Today (Nightengale, Sept. 13), MLB.com (GM search), MLB Trade Rumors (August), Sports Business Journal, Dodgers on X, Baseball Hall of Fame, Ken Rosenthal on X, MLB Trade Rumors (Baldelli).

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