Crane Rules Out Astros Fire Sale as Flores Makes Manager Search His First Priority

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane has downplayed talk of a trade fire sale after introducing Randy Flores as the club's new general manager. Speaking at a press conference at Daikin Park on Monday, Crane was asked about reports that Houston could deal several established players. "I don't think it's going to be a complete teardown at all," he said, making clear he wants the team back in World Series contention after a season in which Houston won the AL West but was swept out of the Wild Card round by the Chicago White Sox at home. Flores, introduced after a two-month search, made his first priority equally clear. "Immediate. We need to get started on that and finalize that," he said of hiring a manager to replace Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed on October 14. Crane said Flores has full authority over the search, which already includes reported interviews with Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus. Other names linked to the job include Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Morgan Ensberg. Flores arrives with deep St. Louis roots, having joined the Cardinals as scouting director in 2015 and served as assistant general manager from 2019 through 2026, after pitching in 350 major league games. He replaces Dana Brown, who parted ways with Houston more than two months ago. With a lockout looming on December 1, Flores has little time to shape the front office before the market shuts down.