The Astros officially announced the hiring of Ed Wade as their new general manager after an extensive search that lasted nearly a month and included 11 official interviews.
Wade’s worked with the Philadelphia Phillies but he was fired two years ago following eight seasons without making it to the playoffs.

The 51-year-old had a hard time while managing the Phillies from 1998 through the 2005 season and had to bear heavy criticism for his unwillingness to make important moves before the trade deadline and also for spending money inefficiently by signing player who didn’t met expectations.

"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."

As the Phillies GM he took care of rebuilding of the team’s tired farm system. Virtually the entire core of the Phillies' contemporary team was signed and developed during his tenure.

"It was a great eight-year run for me individually and for the organization, I believe," he said.

Under his management, the Phillies drafted star players like first baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, left-hander Cole Hamels and right-hander Brett Myers. But two of his biggest trades— right-hander Curt Schilling to the Diamondbacks in 2000 and third baseman Scott Rolen — disappointed. He also signed right fielder Bobby Abreu and left fielder Pat Burrell to huge contracts with full no-trade clauses, drawing more criticism.

Since being fired by the Phillies, he worked as a scout and special assistant to Padres GM Kevin Towers.

Team president Tal Smith and Wade worked together back in the late 1970s when Wade served as the Astros' PR director and Smith was the GM. They also collaborated when, in the mid-'80s, Smith created Tal Smith Enterprises, a consulting company that represented teams in contract negotiations and arbitration hearings.

Atros’ former GM, Tim Purpura, and manager Phil Garner were both fired. Smith was appointed interim G.M. and Cecil Cooper interim manager.

Although there were high expectations at the beginning of the season due to free-agent signings of left fielder Carlos Lee, right-hander Woody Williams and infielder Mark Loretta, and trade for right-hander Jason Jennings, the Astros (66-86) are tied for last place in the National League Central.