Though John Mozeliak is under contract through the 2025 season, the St. Louis Cardinals have made no secret of their intent to reshape the front office for the future. All signs now point to Randy Flores as the likely successor.
As the Cardinals navigate a difficult 2023 season, filled with inconsistency and unmet expectations, ownership remains loyal to Mozeliak. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. appears determined to let Mozeliak attempt to right the ship, trusting his long history of success. However, it’s widely understood that his current two-year deal is expected to be his final contract with the organization.
While the Cardinals won’t be changing ownership, they are clearly laying the groundwork for a leadership transition. And Flores—former Cardinals reliever and current Assistant GM—looks like the natural heir to the President of Baseball Operations role.
Flores, a member of the 2006 World Series-winning roster, rejoined the organization in 2015 following the fallout from the hacking scandal involving Chris Correa. He was brought on to lead the scouting department at a time when the team’s player development pipeline was faltering. Since then, he’s revitalized the Cardinals’ draft success.
From 2015–2018, Flores’ scouting yielded impact players like Harrison Bader, Jordan Hicks, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Nolan Gorman. But it was the shortened 2020 draft—just five rounds due to COVID—that elevated his reputation. His bold decision to draft three high schoolers—Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, and Tink Hence—produced the Cardinals’ top three prospects, all projected to become future stars.
Flores has shown a knack for identifying overlooked talent and turning them into valuable assets, a testament to his sharp scouting acumen and efficient front office strategy.
Meanwhile, General Manager Michael Girsch, long seen as Mozeliak’s right-hand man, may soon move on. He’s been linked to other POBO searches, including one with the Mets, and many speculate he won’t stick around for a full Cardinals rebuild. In contrast, Flores has increasingly taken the spotlight with tangible, impactful contributions.
With Mozeliak’s tenure nearing its end, the Cardinals appear ready to pass the torch. Flores’ track record, internal respect, and vision for sustainable success have made him the clear front-runner to lead the next chapter of Cardinals baseball.
