Dana Brown
★ activeBorn 1967 · age 59
General manager for the Astros (2023–present).
Across the full 4-season sample, the measured profile stands out most for future-foundation returns (99th percentile), cheap-talent surplus (90th percentile), and avoidance of dead payroll (84th percentile). The clearest contrast is cost per win (4th percentile): the measured clubs have paid more per unit of positive WAR than most peers. Because the sample covers fewer than five seasons, those comparisons are descriptive rather than stable.
4 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.
0 pennants · 3 playoff appearances · 346–301 (0.535)
Overview
to
| Team | Role | Year | Pay $M |
Rel Pay |
Surp $M |
Surp WAR |
Dead % |
Cheap $M |
Draft $M |
Trd $M |
Int'l $M |
$ / WAR |
WAR | Depth | Dead WAR |
HG | Trade | Net/ Trd |
FA | R5 | RFA | PPA | CPA | WAB | TAB | W-L% | PO | Pen | WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Astros |
GM | 2023 90–72 | $194 | 127 | -25 | -6.3 | 32% | +79 | +30 | +11 | +20 | $4.2M | 42.6 | 9.0 | -3.9 | +1.9 | +0.8 | +0.13 | +1.8 | +0.0 | +0.05 | 6.83 | 0.60 | +5.1 | +5.5 | 0.556 | ✓ | ||
| Astros |
GM | 2024 88–73 | $252 | 156 | -84 | -20.1 | 25% | +48 | +4 | +7 | -4 | $5.4M | 40.3 | 9.0 | -6.0 | +0.5 | +1.8 | +0.29 | -7.7 | +0.0 | +1.46 | 6.54 | 0.44 | +1.0 | +1.0 | 0.547 | ✓ | ||
| Astros |
GM | 2025 87–75 | $191 | 122 | -36 | -9.0 | 20% | +36 | +3 | -4 | -5 | $4.5M | 38.7 | 8.0 | -3.7 | +0.8 | +1.5 | +0.25 | -0.6 | +0.0 | +1.36 | 3.45 | 0.24 | +2.5 | +2.1 | 0.537 | |||
| Astros |
GM | 2026 81–81 | $238 | 147 | -118 | -28.2 | 28% | +15 | -4 | +20 | -7 | $7.0M | 28.6 | 4.0 | -5.3 | -0.1 | +0.2 | +0.10 | -0.2 | +0.0 | +1.07 | 0.59 | 0.10 | -5.8 | -10.3 | 0.500 | ✓ | ||
| Career total (1985+ data) | $875 | 138 | -263 | -63.6 | 26% | +45 | +8 | +9 | +1 | $5.2M | 150.2 | 7.5 | -4.7 | +3.1 | +4.2 | +0.21 | -6.6 | +0.0 | +1.01 | 3.87 | 0.28 | +2.7 | -1.8 | 0.535 | 3 | – | – | ||
Roster Construction
Build channels — net fWAR
Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.
Home-grown (draft/intl)+3.1
Trade+4.2
Free agency-6.6
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.0
Sourcing mix: 14% draft · 71% FA · 14% trade · 0% R5
Trades
Trades made — 47 deals credited to Dana Brown, best expected value first; surplus is realized value in $M
2025 · MIN / HOU
Jul 31, 2025
MIN · Derek Falvey
+$16.8M
Matt Mikulski
HOU · Dana Brown
−$16.8M
Carlos Correa
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · PIT / HOU
Dec 19, 2025
PIT · Ben Cherington
+$3.2M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$3.2M
Mike Burrows
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / CHC
Dec 13, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$18.4M
Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski
CHC · Jed Hoyer
−$18.4M
Kyle Tucker
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · HOU / TOR
Feb 13, 2026
HOU · Dana Brown
+$1.6M
Joey Loperfido
TOR · Ross Atkins
−$1.6M
Jesús Sánchez
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / ATL
Apr 8, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$8.8M
cash / PTBNL
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos
−$8.8M
Rafael Montero
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / ARI
Jan 8, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Matthew Linskey
ARI · Mike Hazen
+$0.0M
Grae Kessinger
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · BAL / HOU
Jun 23, 2023
BAL · Mike Elias
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Spenser Watkins
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · HOU / CHW
Jul 28, 2023
HOU · Dana Brown
+$4.0M
Kendall Graveman
CHW · Kenny Williams
−$4.0M
Korey Lee
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · MIL / HOU
Jul 12, 2026
MIL · Matt Arnold
+$0.0M
Braden Shewmake
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · MIL / HOU
Jun 19, 2025
MIL · Matt Arnold
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Wes Clarke
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / CHC
Jan 28, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$7.2M
Juan Bello
CHC · Jed Hoyer
−$7.2M
Ryan Pressly
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / BAL
Jul 31, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Ramón Urías
BAL · Mike Elias
+$0.0M
Twine Palmer
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · ATL / HOU
Apr 11, 2025
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Patrick Halligan
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · SDP / HOU
Feb 13, 2024
SDP · AJ Preller
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Oliver Carrillo
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / TOR
May 4, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
TOR · Ross Atkins
+$0.0M
Joel Kuhnel
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · HOU / SFG
Jan 30, 2026
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Kai-Wei Teng
SFG · Buster Posey
+$0.0M
Jancel Villarroel
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · TBR / HOU
Jun 10, 2026
TBR · Erik Neander
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Raynel Delgado
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · WSN / HOU
Jun 21, 2026
WSN · Paul Toboni
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Marcus Brown
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · KCR / HOU
Jul 22, 2026
KCR · J.J. Picollo
+$0.8M
Nate Pearson
HOU · Dana Brown
−$0.8M
Max Martin
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · NYM / HOU
Apr 23, 2025
NYM · David Stearns
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Rowdey Jordan
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · CHC / HOU
Dec 4, 2025
CHC · Jed Hoyer
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Nico Zeglin
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · HOU / WSN
Jul 3, 2026
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
WSN · Paul Toboni
−$0.8M
Tom Cosgrove
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · MIL / HOU
Jul 15, 2026
MIL · Matt Arnold
+$0.8M
Lance McCullers, Colton Gordon
HOU · Dana Brown
−$0.8M
Jadyn Fielder
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / CHW
May 15, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
CHW · Chris Getz
−$1.6M
Miguel Castro
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · ATL / HOU
Nov 19, 2025
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos
+$15.2M
Mauricio Dubón
HOU · Dana Brown
−$15.2M
Nick Allen
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / OAK
May 16, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
OAK · David Forst
−$0.8M
Brandon Bielak
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · CIN / HOU
Jun 17, 2023
CIN · Nick Krall
+$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$0.8M
Joel Kuhnel
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · PHI / HOU
May 5, 2023
PHI · Dave Dombrowski
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Nick Allgeyer
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · HOU / CHC
Jun 20, 2026
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.8M
Cameron Sisneros
CHC · Jed Hoyer
−$0.8M
Jayden Murray
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · MIA / HOU
Jul 31, 2025
MIA · Peter Bendix
+$7.2M
Esmil Valencia, Chase Jaworsky, Ryan Gusto
HOU · Dana Brown
−$7.2M
Jesús Sánchez
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / TOR
Jul 29, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$1.6M
Yusei Kikuchi
TOR · Ross Atkins
−$1.6M
Will Wagner, Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · NYY / HOU
Nov 4, 2024
NYY · Brian Cashman
+$2.4M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$2.4M
Taylor Trammell
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / NYY
Jul 30, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Caleb Ferguson
NYY · Brian Cashman
+$0.0M
Kelly Austin
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · MIA / HOU
Aug 3, 2025
MIA · Peter Bendix
+$0.8M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$0.8M
John Rooney
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / MIA
Apr 6, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$2.4M
Jacob Amaya
MIA · Peter Bendix
−$2.4M
Valente Bellozo
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · HOU / TOR
Apr 1, 2025
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Nick Robertson
TOR · Ross Atkins
+$0.0M
Edinson Batista
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · ATL / HOU
Aug 7, 2025
ATL · Alex Anthopoulos
+$0.0M
Jesús Bastidas
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · TBR / HOU
Dec 19, 2025
TBR · Erik Neander
+$0.0M
Anderson Brito, Jacob Melton
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · SDP / HOU
Jun 4, 2024
SDP · AJ Preller
+$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$1.6M
Nick Hernandez
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · HOU / CHW
May 15, 2024
HOU · Dana Brown
+$3.2M
Luis Rodriguez
CHW · Chris Getz
−$3.2M
Corey Julks
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · KCR / HOU
Dec 6, 2023
KCR · J.J. Picollo
+$0.0M
Carlos Mateo
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Dylan Coleman
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · DET / HOU
Jan 3, 2023
DET · Scott Harris
+$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
HOU · Dana Brown
−$1.6M
Bligh Madris
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · NYY / HOU
Apr 19, 2026
NYY · Brian Cashman
+$0.0M
Wilmy Sanchez
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
Braden Shewmake
Too soon to call
unsettled
2024 · ANA / HOU
Jan 31, 2024
ANA · Perry Minasian
+$1.6M
Carlos Espinosa
HOU · Dana Brown
−$1.6M
Trey Cabbage
Too soon to call
unsettled
2026 · HOU / TOR
Aug 3, 2026
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.8M
Daulton Varsho
TOR · Ross Atkins
−$0.8M
Spencer Arrighetti
Too soon to call
unsettled
2025 · TBR / HOU
Jun 13, 2025
TBR · Erik Neander
+$0.0M
Forrest Whitley
HOU · Dana Brown
+$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call
unsettled
2023 · NYM / HOU
Aug 1, 2023
NYM · Billy Eppler
+$51.2M
Ryan Clifford, Drew Gilbert
HOU · Dana Brown
−$51.2M
Justin Verlander
Too soon to call
unsettled
Players acquired — 65 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)
| Player | Pos | Team | How | Year | Szns | fWAR | WAR/yr | RFA | PPA | CPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Paredes | 3B | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 2 | +6.9 | +3.4 | +7.65 | 8.4% | 0.58% |
| Josh Hader | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2024 | 3 | +3.9 | +1.3 | – | 6.2% | 0.42% |
| Víctor Caratini | C | HOU |
Free agency | 2023 | 2 | +2.8 | +1.4 | – | 12.5% | 0.82% |
| Steven Okert | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +2.8 | +1.4 | – | 5.4% | 0.38% |
| Christian Walker | 1B | HOU |
Free agency | 2024 | 2 | +2.8 | +1.4 | – | 4.1% | 0.28% |
| Cam Smith | OF | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 2 | +2.5 | +1.2 | +7.65 | – | – |
| Peter Lambert | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +2.4 | +2.4 | – | 1.4% | 0.23% |
| Spencer Arrighetti | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | 2 | +1.6 | +0.8 | – | – | – |
| Yusei Kikuchi | P | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +1.4 | +1.4 | – | 9.3% | 0.62% |
| Hayden Wesneski | P | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 2 | +1.4 | +0.7 | +7.65 | 0.6% | 0.04% |
| J. P. France | P | HOU |
Draft | 2023 | 2 | +1.2 | +0.6 | – | – | – |
| Carlos Correa | SS | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 9 | +1.1 | +0.1 | +21.52 | – | – |
| Bennett Sousa | P | HOU |
Trade | 2023 | 2 | +1.1 | +0.5 | – | 1.3% | 0.11% |
| Ryan Gusto | P | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +1.1 | +1.1 | – | 3.7% | 0.25% |
| Brandon Walter | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | – | 2.8% | 0.19% |
| Bryan King | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | 2 | +0.7 | +0.3 | – | – | – |
| Nick Allen | SS | HOU |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.7 | +0.7 | +0.00 | 0.4% | 0.06% |
| Tatsuya Imai | P | HOU |
Draft | 2026 | 1 | +0.5 | +0.5 | – | – | – |
| Shawn Dubin | P | HOU |
Draft | 2023 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – | – | – |
| Corey Julks | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2023 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | – | – |
| Brice Matthews | 2B/OF | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 2 | +0.4 | +0.2 | – | – | – |
| Jason Alexander | P | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.4 | +0.4 | – | 1.6% | 0.11% |
| AJ Blubaugh | P | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 2 | +0.3 | +0.1 | – | – | – |
| Zach Cole | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | – | – |
| Enyel De Los Santos | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 0.2% | 0.03% |
| Jason Heyward | OF | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 2.2% | 0.15% |
| Caleb Ferguson | P | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | – | 1.8% | 0.12% |
| Joey Loperfido | OF | HOU |
Trade | 2026 | 2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | +2.09 | 2.2% | 0.15% |
| Tayler Scott | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2023 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | – | 1.2% | 0.08% |
| Ramón Urías | 3B | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -1.41 | 0.8% | 0.05% |
| Kai-Wei Teng | P | HOU |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -0.05 | 0.1% | 0.02% |
| César Salazar | C | HOU |
Draft | 2023 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | – | – | – |
| Logan VanWey | P | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | – | – |
| Christian Vázquez | C | HOU |
Free agency | 2026 | 2 | +0.1 | +0.0 | – | 0.1% | 0.33% |
| Ben Gamel | OF | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | 0.7% | 0.05% |
| Nate Pearson | P | HOU |
Trade | 2026 | 1 | +0.1 | +0.1 | – | 0.0% | 0.01% |
| Cody Bolton | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Dylan Coleman | P | HOU |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | -0.06 | 0.0% | 0.00% |
| Luis Contreras | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – |
| Kenedy Corona | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – |
| Miguel Díaz | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.0% | 0.00% |
| Colton Gordon | P | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – |
| Luis Guillorme | 2B/3B | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Zack Short | SS | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.2% | 0.01% |
| Wander Suero | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2023 | – | +0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Jordan Weems | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Forrest Whitley | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | – | – |
| Matt Gage | P | HOU |
Trade | 2023 | 1 | +0.0 | +0.0 | – | 0.2% | 0.01% |
| Blair Henley | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Cooper Hummel | DH/OF | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Daniel Johnson | OF | HOU |
Free agency | 2026 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – |
| John Rooney | P | HOU |
Trade | 2025 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – |
| LaMonte Wade | 1B/OF | HOU |
Free agency | 2026 | – | -0.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Joel Kuhnel | P | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | 1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | +0.04 | 0.0% | 0.00% |
| Grae Kessinger | 2B/3B | HOU |
Draft | 2023 | 1 | -0.2 | -0.2 | – | – | – |
| Christian Roa | P | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.2 | – | – | – | – |
| Jake Bloss | P | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Zach Dezenzo | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | 1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | – | – | – |
| Nick Hernandez | P | HOU |
Trade | 2024 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Bligh Madris | 1B/OF | HOU |
Trade | 2023 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Jacob Melton | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2025 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Brendan Rodgers | 2B | HOU |
Free agency | 2025 | – | -0.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Pedro León | OF | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.5 | – | – | – | – |
| Ryan Weiss | P | HOU |
Draft | 2026 | – | -0.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Shay Whitcomb | 3B | HOU |
Draft | 2024 | – | -0.7 | – | – | – | – |
Trade-side columns: RFA is playoff-readiness percentage points added to the future roster foundation. It grades the franchise's entire side of a trade, so the same score repeats for every player acquired in that package. PPA/CPA remain player-level arrival-year probability points.
WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.
Graphs
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