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The Astros hire Cardinals executive Randy Flores as general manager cover
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The Astros hire Cardinals executive Randy Flores as general manager

Flores spent eight seasons as a St. Louis assistant GM and replaces Dana Brown, who was let go in August. Houston still has to hire a manager after Joe Espada's contract was not renewed.

By Beat Chuck Sports Desk / 1 source / Published October 31, 2026

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  • The Houston Astros hired Randy Flores as their general manager on Friday, pulling him out of the St. Louis Cardinals' front office after more than a decade there.

    Flores, 51, becomes the 15th GM in Astros history, according to ESPN. He had been St. Louis' assistant general manager of amateur and pro acquisition. He joined the Cardinals as director of scouting in 2015 and spent the 2019 through 2026 seasons as one of their assistant GMs.

  • He takes over a job that has been empty for more than two months. Houston cut ties with Dana Brown on Aug. 24, with Brown's contract set to run out at the end of the season. Three assistant GMs and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, a special adviser, handled the work for the rest of the year while owner Jim Crane looked for a replacement.

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  • "Randy has had a huge impact on the Cardinals over the last 10 seasons," Crane said in a statement. "Throughout the entire interview process we've been thoroughly impressed with Randy and his background in scouting and player acquisition."

    Flores said he was "excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity" and thanked the Cardinals for the chances they gave him.

    The first big decision is already waiting. The Astros also need a manager, because Joe Espada's contract was not renewed after Houston was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card Series. That gives Flores a say in the dugout hire before he has even been introduced.

  • Houston's season was an odd one. The Astros went 81-81 and still won the AL West, their fifth division title in six years, and ESPN noted they became the first club without a winning record to reach the playoffs in a non-shortened season.

    Flores knows the game from the mound, too. The left-hander pitched in the majors from 2002 to 2010, mostly in relief, and went 11-5 with a 4.61 ERA and four saves in 350 appearances for Texas, Colorado, St. Louis and Minnesota.

  • What's next: The Astros will formally introduce Flores at a news conference Monday morning at Daikin Park. The manager search is the first thing he'll be asked about, and the answer will tell Houston fans how much of a reset this offseason really is.