Randy Flores could be on the move again, and this time it might take him out of St. Louis and into the top baseball job with the Los Angeles Angels.
According to Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times, the Cardinals’ assistant general manager is viewed around the industry as the leading candidate for the Angels’ general manager opening. Shaikin reported that Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak could remain in the organization in another role, writing, "Within the industry, former major league pitcher and current St.
Louis Cardinals assistant general manager Randy Flores is considered the favorite, with (Angels interim general manager John) Mozeliak remaining either as a president of baseball operations or a senior adviser," Shaikin wrote. "Mozeliak insists he has not decided what he wants to do beyond the season, and he said his long working relationship with Flores in St.
Louis will not preclude a round of interviews."
Shaikin also said Mozeliak has not yet interviewed any candidates and has not scheduled interviews for the job.
For Flores, the possibility of another front office jump comes after a long and winding relationship with the Cardinals. St.
Louis first drafted him in the 21st round of the 1996 MLB June Amateur Draft, then the Yankees selected him in the ninth round the following year. He didn’t return to the Cardinals until November 2003, when he signed as a free agent, 19 months after his MLB debut.
Now 51, Flores has been back in St. Louis since 2015. He started there as director of scouting and has spent the last eight years as assistant general manager.
His playing days in St. Louis were a major part of his career, too.
Flores spent five seasons with the Cardinals from 2004 through 2008 and was a key arm in the 2006 bullpen. That group helped St.
Louis win the World Series that fall for the first time in 24 years.
Flores had a rough regular season in 2006, posting a 5.62 ERA in 65 relief appearances, but he was far better when the lights got brighter. In the postseason, he allowed no runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in seven games, and he earned the win in Game 7 of the NLCS against the New York Mets.
He finished his big league career on Sept. 27, 2010, with the Minnesota Twins. Over 350 games and 250 innings, Flores went 11-5 with four saves and a 4.61 ERA.
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