Houston Astros Appoint Randy Flores as General Manager

The Houston Astros named Randy Flores as their new general manager on Friday. The 51-year-old executive joins the organization from the St. Louis Cardinals, where he served as assistant general manager of amateur and professional acquisition. His hiring marks the 15th change in general manager for the franchise.

Flores replaces Dana Brown, who was released on August 24. Brown's contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but the club cut ties with him three months prior to the final game. Following Brown's departure, three assistant general managers and special adviser Jeff Bagwell assumed his duties for the remainder of the campaign.

The Astros face a second major hiring decision this offseason. The team must select a new manager because Joe Espada's contract was not renewed. Espada was let go after the AL West champions were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series. This elimination ended a season in which Houston finished with an 81-81 record.

Houston's 81-81 mark gave the club its fifth AL West title in six years. The team became the first major league club with a losing or even record to reach the postseason in a full, non-shortened season. Owner Jim Crane said in a statement that the front office was impressed by Flores' background in scouting and player acquisition during the interview process.

Flores has worked in professional baseball since 2015. He joined the Cardinals' front office as director of scouting and spent the next eight seasons, from 2019 to 2026, as an assistant general manager. Before his administrative career, he played in the majors for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010.

During his playing career, Flores appeared in 347 relief games and three starts. He recorded a 11-5 win-loss record, a 4.61 earned run average, and four saves. He pitched for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Minnesota Twins.

The Astros will hold a news conference at Daikin Park on Monday morning to formally introduce Flores. Flores said he is grateful for the opportunity and looks forward to contributing to the team's success. He also thanked the Cardinals for the support that allowed him to move to his next role.