Mark Feinsand from MLB.com is reporting that Houston Astros assistant GM Pete Putila is the mystery third person in line for the vacant Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager position. We heard last night that Matt Arnold and Ben Cherington would get second interviews, but the third name was unknown. Speculation was that it was Kevan Graves, who is currently the interim GM for the Pirates.
Astros assistant GM Pete Putila is the mystery third candidate for the Pirates GM job, according to a source. He interviewed in Pittsburgh after the World Series and also interviewed for the Giants GM job this offseason.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 13, 2019
The Astros have made it to the World Series in two of the last three years, and they won it all in 2017 (I know about the video cheating rumors/proof going around). Putila has been their Director of Player Development since August 2016. Before that, he was their Assistant Director for one season. He’s been with the Astros since 2011 in multiple front office roles. He worked his way from Baseball Operations intern in 2011, to Baseball Operations Director (two steps higher), prior to moving up to Assistant Director of Player Development. He was promoted to Assistant GM in September. Putila is from an hour south of Pittsburgh, born in Carmichaels, PA.
