Wade hired as Astros GM

Ed Wade was hired Thursday as general manager of the Houston Astros, two years after the Philadelphia Phillies fired him as GM following eight seasons without a playoff appearance.

The 51-year-old Wade, who worked in public relations for the Astros early in a career that began in 1977, was heavily criticized in Philadelphia for his reluctance to make significant moves before the trade deadline and for giving big-money, long-term contracts to players who underachieved.

"The Phillies team was put together not through big trades but through player development," Astros owner Drayton McLane said. "We had some wonderful candidates, but Ed just stood out."

Wade replaced Lee Thomas in 1998 after serving as his assistant for eight years. He had two years remaining on his contract when he was let go.

"It was a great eight-year run for me individually and for the organization, I believe," Wade said. "We were able to do some things to re-establish the farm system, add stability and continuity and to build a team that was successful but just not quite successful enough."

Wade inherited a Phillies team that had finished last two straight years and had posted losing records in 10 of 11 seasons. He fired Terry Francona after the 2000 season, hired Larry Bowa and rebuilt the team around young stars such as Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins.

Astros president Tal Smith credited Wade with helping develop the current Phillies nucleus.

"You've got to look at the body of work and this was done under Ed Wade's administration with the Phillies," Smith said. "All the candidates bring something to the table but the 31 years of experience and the track record with (what) the Phillies have accomplished and where they are today is certainly a determining factor."

Francona won a World Series with Boston in 2004, the same year Wade fired Bowa and replaced him with Charlie Manuel, another move that was criticized.

"Happy for him. I think he deserves to get another crack at being a GM," Manuel said Thursday night before the Phillies played in Washington. "He showed a lot of trust in me and a lot of faith in me."

McLane called Francona as well as current Phillies president David Montgomery, who fired Wade as Philadelphia's GM, and got great recommendations from both men.

Houston fired GM Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner on Aug. 27. Bench coach Cecil Cooper became interim manager, and Smith served as interim GM.

The Astros, who played in their first World Series two years ago, entered Thursday tied for last in the NL Central at 66-86, a half-game ahead of Florida for worst record in the NL.

Others who interviewed included former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans, former Astros general manager Bob Watson and Philadelphia assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr.

Amaro said it was the fourth time he was passed over for a major league GM job. The Orioles, Dodgers and Phillies previously had interest in him.

"I was very happy for Ed. The Astros made a great choice," Amaro said. "Hopefully, for all involved, it works out for them."

"There's a lot of people the field right here that came from the Ed Wade era," he said.

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AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington contributed to this report.