The Opener: Astros, Angels, Transactions

Game 4 of the 2001 World Series began on Halloween but didn’t end until after midnight ET, which is why Derek Jeter was given the nickname of “Mr. November” following his walkoff homer in the bottom of the tenth. Jeter’s heroics came an inning after Tino Martinez hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, erasing a 3-1 Diamondbacks lead and forcing extras. The Yankees’ 4-3 win knotted the Series at two games apiece, and even more drama was yet to come in the final three games of what was one of the greatest World Series in baseball history. 1. Randy Flores is Houston’s new GM The Astros concluded their GM search yesterday with the hiring of Randy Flores. The longtime Cardinals assistant GM and scouting director began his playing career in Texas with the Rangers, and his first shot at running a big league front office will now also come in the Lone Star State. Flores will be tasked with breathing new life into an Astros team that won the AL West with only a .500 record, and in general seems to be nearing the end of a decade-long contention window. 2. Angels on the clock for a GM hiring Given the shared St. Louis ties between Flores and John Mozeliak, Flores had been rumored as a candidate to take over the Angels’ front office basically ever since Mozeliak was brought on as interim GM in June. Instead, Flores will now be helming a division rival, and Los Angeles is the last team still looking for a new front office leader, with Mozeliak himself not a candidate for the full-time job. There hasn’t been much public news about the Angels’ search, which is also happening under the broader umbrella over the team’s ownership transfer, though Stan Kroenke won’t be officially approved as the Angels’ new owner for at least a couple of months. With the lockout looming on December 1, the new GM won’t have a lot of time to start making substantial moves before the transactions freeze, plus the Halos also need a new manager to replace Kurt Suzuki. 3. Busy weekend for roster moves We may be a month away from a transactions freeze, but plenty of roster maneuverings will be coming before free agency officially opens at 4pm CT on Monday. Teams must set their 40-man rosters by that date, so expect plenty of DFAs, outrights, waiver claims, and trades as clubs look to both shed and add players to get to exactly 40 names. Some club and player options on contracts have also yet to be decided, and teams have until Monday to decide whether or not to issue qualifying offers to eligible free agents. View Comments (1)