Astros hire Randy Flores as general manager amid front office changes

The Astros are reshaping their baseball leadership after a sharp decline from their championship-era peak: general manager Dana Brown was dismissed, manager Joe Espada will not return for 2027, and former Cardinals executive Randy Flores has been hired as GM. Owner Jim Crane said Flores’s experience across playing, scouting and baseball operations made him a strong fit, while Flores says his difficult path as a player will help him lead with empathy while maintaining high standards. The club is also strengthening player development, hiring Conner Watson to oversee hitting development and Spencer Medick to lead pitching development, with a particular emphasis on improving pitchers’ velocity. The moves come as Houston faces an uneven roster and uncertainty about how much further turnover may be needed.