Astros Rumor Roundup: Nationals Writer Sizes Up Mike Rizzo in Houston, Pirates Confirm Sean Buchanan Hire

The Astros news from other teams' markets since Tuesday's roundup came from Washington, Pittsburgh and Seattle. A Nationals writer weighed whether Mike Rizzo fits in Houston, the Pirates' beat writer confirmed the club is hiring Triple-A pitching coach Sean Buchanan, and a Mariners site used the Astros' GM search to make a point about Seattle's own winter. Overnight and Wednesday morning were quiet on that front. All times are Central.

Washington: Would Rizzo fit in Houston?

Sam Sallick of Federal Baseball, SB Nation's Nationals site, wrote an explainer on Rizzo's candidacy on Tuesday afternoon, the day Rizzo sat down with Jim Crane. (We covered the formal interview on Tuesday.) Federal Baseball shared the piece on X at 3:37 p.m.

Sallick's case is that Houston could suit Rizzo better than his last few years in Washington did. "Despite Rizzo being an old school guy, I do not think it would be impossible for him to have success in Houston," he wrote. "He would have to adapt some, but a veteran Astros team that is not afraid to spend money would suit Rizzo better than a young, smaller budget club."

He didn't skip the caveats. Sallick wrote that Rizzo "may not be an innovator at this stage of his career" but "still has an eye for a good trade and does a solid job with pro scouting," and that he believes Rizzo "will have to lean into analytics more than he did." He credited Rizzo with turning the Nationals into one of the best teams of the last decade, with a World Series title and four NL East crowns, but said "the 2020's have been a different story," pointing to "bad drafting and an inability to adapt." He also noted the interest in Rizzo "seems to be more serious" than when he was floated for the Athletics job, while calling it "no lock" because he is one of several candidates.

Sallick pointed out a practical connection too: the Nationals and Astros share a spring training complex in West Palm Beach, so if Rizzo gets the job, "we will be seeing a lot of him during Spring Training." He also contrasted Rizzo's approach with that of his successor, Paul Toboni, who has brought more pitching tech to Washington. His closing line for Astros fans: "I hope you are getting 2010's Rizzo and not the 2020's version."

From the Mariners' side, Mariners On SI's Tremayne Person used the Rizzo interview as a jumping-off point Tuesday night. It's an opinion piece, mostly about Seattle. Person wrote that "a division rival's drama isn't a roster upgrade," and that Rizzo's "championship résumé doesn't guarantee he would succeed in Houston." He urged Mariners owner John Stanton to spend while Houston sorts out its front office.

Pittsburgh: Pirates confirm Buchanan hire

Chandler Rome of The Athletic first reported Tuesday that the Astros are losing Triple-A pitching coach Sean Buchanan to the Pirates, as we covered. Pittsburgh's side followed. Colin Beazley, the Pirates beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, wrote at 4:46 p.m. that the Pirates are hiring Buchanan, "a source confirms," and that they "plan to have Buchanan working in the upper levels of the minor league system, with some details and his exact title TBD."

In a follow-up at 4:51 p.m., Beazley pointed to Buchanan's "obvious ties to pitching coach Bill Murphy, whom the Pirates hired from the Astros last year," and noted that general manager Ben Cherington talked at the end of the season about building the pitching infrastructure around Murphy.

What's next

The Astros still haven't named a general manager, and Rizzo is one of several names in the search. In Seattle, the Mariners' in-person interviews with Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler were set for this week, with a decision expected by the end of it. We'll keep tracking both searches here every day.

Sources: Federal Baseball (Sam Sallick); Federal Baseball on X; Mariners On SI (Tremayne Person); Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on X; Beazley follow-up on X.