Astros appoint Randy Flores as new general manager

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane announced Friday that the club has hired Randy Flores as its new general manager.

Flores is 51 years old and previously served as the St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager for amateur and pro acquisition. He joins Houston as the 15th general manager in the team's history. His hiring fills the vacancy left by Dana Brown, who was released on August 24 as his contract neared its expiration date.

Before moving into the executive role, Flores worked in the Cardinals front office for a decade. He started as the director of scouting in 2015 and spent eight seasons from 2019 to 2026 as an assistant GM. The organization had been led by three assistant general managers and special adviser Jeff Bagwell during the final stretch of the season while Crane searched for a permanent replacement.

Crane praised Flores's background in player acquisition in a statement. "Randy has had a huge impact on the Cardinals over the last 10 seasons," Crane said. "Throughout the entire interview process we’ve been thoroughly impressed with Randy and his background in scouting and player acquisition. We’re happy to welcome Randy and his family to the Astros and we can’t wait to get to work on bringing another championship to Houston."

Flores expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join the organization. "I am excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity," Flores said. "The Astros have a long winning tradition under Jim Crane and I look forward to contributing to the success. I want to thank the Cardinals organization for the opportunities and support that made this next chapter possible. My family and I are excited to make Houston home."

The Astros finish the 2026 season with an 81-81 record. They won the American League West title for the fifth time in six years. This marks the first time a major league club without a winning record reached the playoffs in a non-shortened season. The team was eliminated by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series. Joe Espada's contract was not renewed, leaving the manager position open for the offseason.

Flores will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday morning at Daikin Park. Before his front office career, Flores pitched in the majors for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. He recorded 11 wins and five losses with a 4.61 ERA and four saves. The left-hander made 347 relief appearances and three starts for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Minnesota Twins.