Astros Name Randy Flores Their New General Manager

WHO:

MLB Trade Rumors - Matt Kleine had recently signed an extension with Milwaukee, meaning Houston would have needed to buy him out of the deal to hire him.

MLB.com - Flores earned a master’s degree in postsecondary administration in 2014, coached USC pitchers in 2013, worked as a college baseball analyst for ESPN and Pac-12 Networks, and founded a sports video technology company.

MLB.com - Randy Flores, 51, was hired as the Houston Astros’ new general manager, becoming the 15th GM in franchise history; Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane announced the hiring.

MLB.com - Flores joined Houston from the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was assistant general manager of amateur and professional acquisition. He had been a Cardinals assistant GM for eight seasons and joined the club’s front office as director of scouting.

MLB.com - Crane said Flores had a “huge impact on the Cardinals over the last 10 seasons” and praised his background in scouting and player acquisition.

MLB.com - Flores said he was “excited and grateful” for the opportunity, thanked the Cardinals, and said his family was excited to make Houston home.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores had spent more than a decade in St. Louis’ front office and took over a baseball operations department for the first time with the Astros.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores played as a left-handed reliever for four MLB teams and won a World Series ring with St. Louis. After playing, he earned a master’s degree in education, worked as a USC assistant coach, and ran a company providing video scouting reports on amateur players.

MLB.com - Flores and his wife, Lindsey, have two daughters, Sloane and Rowan, and a son, Hawkins.

WHAT:

MLB Trade Rumors - The Athletic reported that Houston offered Kleine the GM job on Wednesday evening; Kleine reportedly sought the title “president of baseball operations,” though he had not withdrawn from consideration.

MLB Trade Rumors - St. Louis selected Delvin Perez, Nolan Gorman, Zack Thompson, Cooper Hjerpe and Chase Davis in the first round during Flores’ tenure; later-round picks included potential building blocks JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker, plus major leaguers Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson, Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy.

MLB Trade Rumors - Houston announced Flores’ hiring after Matt Kleine, the Brewers’ assistant GM, had reportedly emerged as a leading candidate. The Athletic reported Houston offered Kleine the job; possible disagreement over title or salary was reported, but the articles did not establish what changed.

MLB.com - Flores and Crane were scheduled to meet the media at an introductory press conference; MLB.com said it would be streamed on Astros.com and the Astros’ Facebook, YouTube and X accounts.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores’ responsibilities include leading Houston’s managerial search and addressing roster questions.

MLB Trade Rumors - Houston reached the postseason with an 81-81 record and was swept by the White Sox, 13-6 combined, in the Wild Card Series.

MLB Trade Rumors - Houston’s 2026 competitive-balance-tax payroll was about $238 million; its estimated 2027 payroll was $210–215 million, assuming four players were non-tendered.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The introductory press conference will take place in the press conference room at Daikin Park.

MLB.com - Flores is joining the Astros in Houston after working for the Cardinals in St. Louis.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores was hired as a Cardinals scouting director in 2015, replacing Chris Correa, who was fired and imprisoned after illegally accessing the Astros’ internal databases.

WHEN:

MLB.com - The Astros announced the hiring on Friday evening, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

MLB.com - The introductory press conference was scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores played in the major leagues from 2002 to 2010 and joined the Cardinals’ front office in 2015.

WHY:

MLB Trade Rumors - Houston’s roster has several players nearing free agency: Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes after the 2027 season; Yordan Alvarez and Josh Hader are signed through 2028; Hunter Brown and Yainer Diaz have two years of arbitration control.

MLB Trade Rumors - Houston’s roster needs include outfield help and at least one starting pitcher; Christian Walker is due $20 million next season.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores’ scouting experience is relevant as Houston addresses a farm system that MLB Pipeline ranked second-worst in the majors and seeks to balance its roster while remaining competitive.

HOW:

MLB.com - Media outlets other than rightsholders are prohibited from livestreaming the introductory press conference.

MLB.com - Flores became a Cardinals assistant GM after serving as director of scouting; his Cardinals responsibilities included amateur and professional acquisition.

MLB Trade Rumors - Flores’ scouting background includes running Cardinals drafts for 10 years.

The Houston Astros hired Randy Flores as general manager, beginning his first baseball operations leadership role. Flores joins from St. Louis, where he spent eight seasons as assistant general manager. He brings extensive scouting and player-acquisition experience as Houston addresses roster needs and searches for a manager.