Astros Appoint Flores to Lead Front Office After Brown's Departure
The 51-year-old former pitcher replaces Dana Brown, who was dismissed in August, while the team also seeks a new field manager.
By Talia Bennett ·
The Houston Astros have appointed Randy Flores as their new general manager, a move that resolves the leadership vacuum created when Dana Brown was let go in August. Flores, 51, joins the organization as the 15th general manager in franchise history. He previously served as the assistant general manager of amateur and pro acquisition for the St. Louis Cardinals.
The hiring coincides with the team's search for a new field manager. The Astros did not renew the contract of Joe Espada after the American League West champions were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series. Flores will now oversee player acquisition and scouting strategy for the club.
Before joining the Cardinals' front office in 2015 as a scouting director, Flores pitched in Major League Baseball for eight seasons between 2002 and 2010. As a left-handed reliever, he recorded an 11-5 record with a 4.61 earned average and four saves across 347 relief appearances and three starts for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Minnesota Twins.
Astros owner Jim Crane said in a statement that Flores has made a large impact on the Cardinals over the past decade. Crane noted that the team was impressed by Flores' background in scouting and player acquisition during the interview process. The owner expressed eagerness to work with Flores to bring another championship to Houston.
Flores expressed gratitude for the opportunity in his own statement, citing the Astros' long winning tradition under Crane. He thanked the Cardinals organization for the support that made the move possible and stated that his family is excited to make Houston their home.
The hiring follows a period of internal transition for the Astros. After Brown was cut on Aug. 24, three assistant general managers and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, who served as a special adviser, shared Brown's responsibilities for the remainder of the season. The team finished the 2026 campaign with an 81-81 record, securing the AL West title for the fifth time in six years.
Houston becomes the first major league club without a winning record to reach the playoffs in a non-shortened season. Flores will be formally introduced to the media at Daikin Park during a news conference on Monday morning.
