The hangovers and deliriousness from the Brewers’ first World Series title haven’t even subsided and other teams are ready to poach.
The Astros are targeting Milwaukee assistant general manager Matt Kleine to fill their vacant general manager opening, according to The Athletic.
He previously worked for the Astros before joining Milwaukee in 2007.
Kleine, who was 40 entering the season, has been with the Brewers for 20 seasons and earned a promotion to his current role on Nov. 1, 2023.
He worked his way up from associate scout and has held various roles during his two-decade tenure.
The team’s media guide states his current role focused on roster construction, transactions, finances, procedural compliance and overseeing salary arbitration, among other duties.
Kleine worked alongside general manager Matt Arnold and former Brewers general manager and current top Mets baseball executive David Stearns to build an NL power despite spending far less than other teams, particularly the Dodgers, who they swept in the NLCS this year.
The ability to build a strong team without an elite payroll could matter in Houston since owner Jim Crane is known for drawling lines when it comes to long-term extensions.
The Athletic reported that Kleine emerged as the favorite earlier this month from a field that also included White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield, former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and former Phillies general manager Matt Klentak.
Kleine also appeared alongside Crane at the Houston Sports Fall of Fame event earlier this month.
Houston previously split with former general manager Dana Brown during the season, and then also moved on from manager Joe Espada.
Moving fast to hire a new top decision-maker is of the utmost importance considering the potential Dec. 1 lockout and that the person chosen will have to help land a new manager.
Should Kleine land the role, he’ll inherit a team that won the AL West with an 81-81 record but has not won a playoff game since 2023 and features an aging roster.
While Yordan Alvarez is a star, Jose Altuve is only getting older, questions linger about Carlos Correa and Jeremy Pena has one year left on his contract before entering free agency.
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