The Houston Astros are reportedly targeting Milwaukee Brewers assistant general manager Matt Kleine to fill their vacant general manager position, according to The Athletic.
Kleine, who has been with the Brewers for 20 seasons, was promoted to his current role on November 1, 2023. He previously worked for the Astros before joining the Brewers in 2007. His responsibilities with Milwaukee include roster construction, transactions, finances, procedural compliance, and overseeing salary arbitration. Kleine worked alongside general manager Matt Arnold and former Brewers executive David Stearns in building a competitive team on a lower payroll.
The Astros' interest in Kleine comes shortly after the Brewers secured their first World Series title. The team finished the regular season with an 81-81 record.
Kleine emerged as a leading candidate for the Astros' GM role earlier this month, with other candidates including White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield, former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, and former Phillies general manager Matt Klentak. The ability to build a successful team with financial constraints may appeal to Astros owner Jim Crane.
Houston has been searching for new leadership after parting ways with former general manager Dana Brown during the season and moving on from manager Joe Espada. The team is looking to fill the general manager position quickly, with a potential lockout on December 1 and the need to hire a new manager.
If Kleine is hired, he will inherit an Astros team that won the AL West but has not won a playoff game since 2023. The team faces questions about an aging roster, with players like Jose Altuve getting older and questions surrounding Carlos Correa, while Jeremy Pena has one year remaining on his contract before free agency.