In the lab: Randy Flores edition

The Crawfish Boxes columnist Scott Barzilla examines the Houston Astros hiring Randy Flores as general manager across three perspectives. Barzilla highlights Flores' strong player development background with the St. Louis Cardinals, whose farm system ranked among baseball's best entering 2026, while also comparing him to former Astros general manager Dana Brown.

Barzilla notes the hiring follows reported interest in Milwaukee Brewers assistant general manager Matt Kleine, creating public relations challenges for owner Jim Crane. Barzilla argues that while Flores likely brings an upgrade over Brown, major questions remain regarding how much autonomy Crane will grant him in front-office decisions.