Attrition is natural for successful organizations. Outside clubs poaching executives and other personnel is inevitable when you’re as well run as the Braves. And it seems a key cog in Atlanta’s machine is headed to Houston. According to Michael Schwab, VP of scouting Dana Brown has emerged as the clear front-runner for the Astros GM position.
"Dana Brown, Atlanta’s vice president of scouting, has emerged as the clear front-runner to become the Astros' next general manager", per @BNightengale
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) January 22, 2023
Dana Brown has been absolutely critical to the Braves’ success, largely responsible for bringing Shea Langeliers — the centerpiece of the Matt Olson trade — to Atlanta, along with Spencer Strider, Michael Harris, and Tyler Matzek. Alex Anthopoulos has praised him in the past for his ability to identify talent.
“I remember Dana telling me he was a top-five high-school bat in the draft — he wrote it in his report as well — and that we had to take him,” Alex Anthopoulos said. “He wasn’t highly touted at all and Dana wanted to take him in the third round. I remember asking him if he was sure we needed to take him that high and he was adamant. He did the same thing with Spencer Strider (the Braves’ fourth-round pick) in 2020. I’ve been with him a long time and when he’s that convicted I stay out of the way.”
“One other time he pounded for us to sign a player was Tyler Matzek when he was in Indy ball. It was August (2019), minor league season was about to be over and he wouldn’t let it go so we signed him to a two-year minor-league contract. Dana doesn’t bat 1.000, no one does but when he’s passionate about something, I’ve learned the smart move is to listen.”
The Braves can’t offer Brown the promotion to GM that the Astros can, but Atlanta’s ownership is much more stable than Houston’s, so there’s a scenario where Brown loves scouting, doesn’t want the headaches that come with being GM, and feels the situation with Astros isn’t all that enticing. That’s a pipe dream, though. More than likely, he’ll accept the promotion to run a club that has made the World Series in four of the past six seasons, raising the Commissioner’s Trophy twice.
Alex Anthopoulos has a long-standing relationship with Brown, and he’s the type of person to encourage anyone to take a promotion, even if it’s his right-hand man.
—
Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.