The Houston Astros formally introduced Randy Flores as the 15th general manager in franchise history on Monday, Nov. 2, at a morning press conference at Daikin Park. Owner Jim Crane introduced Flores, who was hired on Friday after eight seasons as an assistant general manager with the St. Louis Cardinals. Read our original report on the hire.
Watch the full press conference from the Houston Astros.
Why Crane Picked Flores
“We went over it and over it and over it and as we reflected back on everybody we spoke to and the qualities, we were looking for Randy was a perfect fit,” Crane said Monday, per The Associated Press. “He has experience in every single area of baseball, and you don’t find that very often and he has been trained and been around some good organizations. So, he stood out at the end.”
Job One: Hiring a Manager
Flores said his first priority is hiring a manager to replace Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. The Astros are working toward having a manager in place by the end of the week, per MLB.com.
“We need to get started on that and finalize that,” Flores said.
“The qualities you look for, in coordination with Jim, we’re talking about trust, we’re talking about energy, we’re talking about chemistry,” he said, per the AP.
Crane said he interviewed a few managerial candidates before hiring Flores. “But now that we’ve got Randy in place, he’ll take over that process along with our team and we’ll get to work on that,” Crane said. “We hope to get that filled very quickly.”
Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus met with team officials at Daikin Park on Thursday, according to a source cited by MLB.com. The Astros also need to fill several coaching staff spots, including bench coach.
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Not a Teardown
Crane said he does not expect a rebuild after the Astros went 81-81, won the AL West and were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a complete tear down at all,” Crane said. “I think we’ve got enough talent to work with, and we’ve got to make some good decisions and make some changes and solidify a better lineup and a better team than we had last year.”
In Flores’ Words
“I’m excited and so thankful to get going here as the general manager of the Houston Astros,” Flores said, per MLB.com.
“There’s a weight to the role,” he said, per the AP. “A weight and a responsibility. That’s what I feel right now, actually.”
Randy Flores at a Glance
- 🎂 Age 51
- ⚾ Left-handed reliever in the majors from 2002 to 2010 with Texas, Colorado, St. Louis and Minnesota, going 11-5 with a 4.61 ERA and four saves
- 🔍 Joined the Cardinals’ front office as director of scouting in 2015
- 📋 Cardinals assistant GM for eight seasons (2019-26), most recently overseeing amateur and pro acquisition
- 🎓 Master’s degree in postsecondary administration from USC (2014). He was USC’s pitching coach in 2013 and worked as a college baseball analyst for ESPN and Pac-12 Networks
- 💻 Founded a sports video technology company
How the Astros Got Here
The Astros parted ways with general manager Dana Brown on Aug. 24. Three assistant general managers and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, a special adviser, handled his duties for the rest of the season while Crane searched for a replacement.
Quotes and details via MLB.com and The Associated Press.
What should Randy Flores prioritize after hiring a manager?
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