Houston.Astros.MLB.com

By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

Newly named Houston Astros general manager Tim Purpura speaks during a news conference Monday. (David J. Phillip/AP)

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Purpura, formerly the Astros' assistant GM, was elevated to the position to succeed Gerry Hunsicker, who stepped down after nine years as GM.

The issues, in no particular order: Hire a manager, talk contracts with Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent, wait for Roger Clemens to decide if he wants to return and hire someone to take over Purpura's former position.

"You have multiple things going on at once," Purpura said. "We've already talked about our situations with Beltran and Kent."

Asked if the Astros brass had interest in flying to Beltran's home in Puerto Rico to have a face-to-face meeting with the center fielder and his wife, Jessica, Purpura answered: "To be determined."

"We're certainly open to that," he continued. "But certainly there has to be someone on the other side who wants you to come. I think Carlos does."

Astros owner Drayton McLane pointed out that most of the negotiating at this point goes through the player's agent -- in this case, Scott Boras.

"All of the players have very able and capable agents," McLane said. "We have to work though the agent. Gerry has visited with Scott Boras, and he is a very experienced person. He's outlined that he, in the next few days, will be meeting in Puerto Rico with Carlos and Jessica and they will determine what the next step is.

"The procedure is underway, but you have to work through the process. When the time arrives, we might charter a 747 and all go down there."

A more pressing issue at this point may be the managerial search. Purpura acknowledged that Phil Garner is the "leading candidate," but the Astros intend to adhere to the guidelines of the Commissioner's Office, which includes interviewing minority candidates.

"One of the responsibilities Tim will have, and certainly he will work with Gerry and Tal [Smith, Astros president, baseball operations] and I to do this, is to make sure we follow the commissioner's search procedures," McLane said, "and that we evaluate all eligible and minority people for this particular job."

"Certainly with what Phil did this year, he's certainly the leading candidate," Purpura said. "We'll sit down today, Drayton and I , and Tal and Gerry, and discuss where we go from here. I think that's Job 1, the managerial situation."

Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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