Albert Pujols, a former three-time National League MVP and a surefire Hall of Famer, is scheduled to interview for the Houston Astros’ managerial position on Thursday, multiple reports confirmed on Wednesday. Pujols, who has expressed a strong desire to manage in Major League Baseball, completed his playing career in 2022 after a decorated tenure spanning from 2001 to 2022.
This managerial vacancy arises after the Astros decided to part ways with Joe Espada on October 14, following three seasons at the helm. Espada concluded his tenure with a 256-229 regular-season record but had a disappointing postseason record, going 0-4. The Astros were swept in the American League wild-card round by the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and by the Chicago White Sox in the 2023 playoffs.
In a recent move, the Astros hired Randy Flores, a former major league pitcher, as their new general manager. Flores, who played alongside Pujols on the St. Louis Cardinals from 2004 to 2008 and won the World Series in 2006, has extensive experience in baseball operations after joining the Cardinals’ front office in 2015 and rising to assistant general manager in 2018.
Pujols has previous managerial experience in the Dominican winter league, where he led Leones del Escogido to a championship title in January 2025. He also managed the Dominican Republic team that reached the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Currently, Pujols is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $10 million personal-services contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Other candidates for the Astros’ managerial role include Brad Ausmus, the bench coach for the New York Yankees; Luis Urueta, the bench coach for the Texas Rangers; and Morgan Ensberg, who has been managing Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate for the last three seasons.
Ausmus and Ensberg have notable histories with the Astros. Both were teammates in Houston from 2002 to 2007, while Ausmus previously managed the Detroit Tigers and the Angels, holding a combined record of 386-422.
Pujols boasts impressive career statistics, including a .296 batting average, 703 home runs, and 2,218 RBIs across 22 seasons with the Cardinals, Angels, and Dodgers. He earned numerous accolades, including being an 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion.
