Astros Fire Manager Brad Mills

Houston Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow has spent the summer acquiring young prospects and trading veteran players. The rebuilding project that has begun will also include new managers and coaches

Luhnow announced on Saturday that the team was relieving Brad Mills of his managerial responsibilities. Hitting coach Mike Barnett and first-base coach Bobby Meacham have also been relieved of their duties.

Mills had been with the team since 2010 and was hired by former owner Drayton McLane and General Manager Ed Wade.

New owner Jim Crane brought in Luhnow as his general manager to replace Wade and rumors began circulating that Mills would be replaced. Mills’ contract runs through the end of next year.

The Astros season has gone from bad to worse. The Astros ( 39-82) are 34 games out of first place in the National League Central Divison. The team moves to the American League West in 2013.

Luhnow traded veterans Carlos Lee,Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers, Brandon Lyon, and J.A. Happ at or before the trade deadline earlier this summer.

Luhnow has stockpiled some of baseball’s best prospects in the process.

Players like third baseman Matt Dominguez, Rob Rasmussen, Rudy Owens, Colton Cain, Robbie Grossman, Brett Wallace, Jose Altuve, Delino DeShields Jr. and  Blair Walters are the future of the Astros.