Astros reshape front office, name Elias assistant GM

HOUSTON — In the start of what general manager Jeff Luhnow described as a “comprehensive look across the whole organization,” the Astros on Tuesday began restructuring their front office by announcing three promotions, including Mike Elias becoming assistant general manager.

Elias, 33, has served as scouting director the past four years and will continue to oversee the Draft while also providing leadership and oversight to the Astros’ player development department. Also receiving promotions were Pete Putila to director of player development and Armando Velasco to assistant director of player development.

“We take a look at each department and we look at how it’s evolved over time and where we think it might go and [ask] are we configured properly to take advantage of the changing world?” Luhnow said. “The case of player development, it’s an area that’s evolving rapidly — probably more rapidly than any other single area in baseball. We spent a lot of time thinking about how we want to be configured, what our leadership needs to look like and what skills we need to have so we made some changes that I think are going to really help us.”

Meanwhile, three members of the player development staff were told Monday they would not be retained by the club: Allen Rowin — who spent 10 years with the Astros, including this year as director of Minor League operations — Minor League field coordinator Paul Runge and roving outfield and baserunning coach …

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