Former MLB slugger Albert Pujols will interview to be the next manager of the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the scheduling told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Astros have not publicly released their list of candidates. The interview is expected later this week, the person said.
The person also said Brad Ausmus, a former Astros catcher who is now the New York Yankees bench coach, is a candidate. The Astros are looking for a replacement for Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed. Houston went 81-81 in the regular season and won the AL West, but was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series.
Days earlier, the team hired Randy Flores as general manager. Flores had been an assistant GM with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2019 to 2026. Pujols, 46, retired after the 2022 season. He interviewed for manager jobs with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres last offseason. He was hired by the Angels in 2023 as a special assistant. This year he managed the Dominican Republic to a third-place finish in the World Baseball Classic.