Thursday, October 16, 2003 Associated Press HOUSTON -- Houston Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker signed a one-year contract extension Thursday to remain with the team through the 2005 season, ending his candidacy for the same job with the New York Mets. Hunsicker had one year remaining on a three-year contract with the Astros. Monetary terms were not released. "Gerry has been a key to our development," owner Drayton McLane said. "In the eight years he's been here, we've won four divisional championships and finished second three other years. We think that's a great record for this franchise." The Astros hired Hunsicker away from New York in 1995, and he has built them into a consistent contender most seasons since. The team has won four NL Central titles in his tenure and finished a game behind the Cubs this season after stumbling down the stretch. "I've got a lot of work to do," Hunsicker said. "I feel in some ways I've let Drayton down because I haven't found a way to get this franchise to the top. I'm going to work really hard to get that done." The Mets recently interviewed Hunsicker as they seek a permanent replacement for Steve Phillips, who was fired June 12. Other candidates are Expos general manager Omar Minaya, also once a Mets assistant GM, and current Mets interim general manager Jim Duquette. Hunsicker acknowledged discussions with Mets' owner Fred Wilpon. "Fred and I had an informal conversation. We visited about the Mets' situation," Hunsicker said. "That's the beginning and end of what I'm going to say about the New York Mets. "From the beginning it was my intent and Drayton's intent from the get-go to try to work something out here." Hunsicker worked in New York for seven seasons, starting as director of minor-league operations before his promotion to assistant GM at the end of the 1991 season. With Houston, Hunsicker has built an extensive player development program that has produced young stars such as Richard Hidalgo, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Billy Wagner. He also managed to land the Astros' only major free agent acquisition in the last two decades last winter when he signed second baseman Jeff Kent to an $18.2 million, two-year contract. Hunsicker worked with a $71 million budget last season and now intends to continue the Astros plan to rebuild through the club's farm system. "The thing I'm most excited about is this franchise is in a transition right now to form that new nucleus that's going to take us forward," he said. "As our scouting and development process has been so crucial, it will continue to play a key role in the franchise as it moves forward."
I was so happy to see this today. Although, I think the Astros still would have been left in capable hands with Tim Purpura if Hun had decided to leave. The Reds had been interested in Purpura for their GM spot, so I think he'll end up there if they haven't filled the position yet.
