Albert Pujols set to interview for Astros’ managerial opening

Former three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros’ managerial vacancy on Thursday, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Pujols, who has long desired to manage in the major leagues, is a certain future Hall of Famer as a player with a highly decorated career from 2001 to 2022. The 46-year-old interviewed last offseason for vacant managerial positions with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres.

The Astros parted ways with manager Joe Espada on Oct. 14 following three seasons and two quick playoff exits. He compiled a 256-229 record in the regular season but was 0-4 in the postseason, swept in the American League wild-card round by the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and the Chicago White Sox this season.

Houston hired former major league left-hander Randy Flores as general manager Friday. Flores joined the Cardinals’ front office as scouting director in 2015 and became assistant general manager in November 2018.

Flores and Pujols were teammates with St. Louis from 2004 to 2008, winning the World Series together in 2006.

Pujols, a native of the Dominican Republic, has managed in the Dominican winter league, leading Leones del Escogido to a championship in January 2025. He also managed the Dominican Republic to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

He is also in the fourth year of a 10-year, $10 million personal-services contract with the Angels.

Other reported candidates include New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, Texas Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta and Morgan Ensberg, who has managed Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate for the past three seasons.

Ensberg, a college teammate of Flores at Southern California from 1995 to 1997, coached and managed in the Astros’ minor league system from 2013 to 2018. Ausmus, 57, and Ensberg, 51, were Astros teammates from 2002 to 2007.

Ausmus played 1,971 regular-season games in the majors from 1993 to 2010, including with Houston from 1997 to 1998 and 2001 to 2008. He managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014 to 2017 and the Angels in 2019, going a combined 386-422 (.478).

Pujols batted .296 with 703 home runs, 2,218 RBIs, a .374 on-base percentage and .544 slugging percentage in 22 seasons with the Cardinals, Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. He won World Series championships with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011.

The 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, Pujols was an 11-time All-Star and three-time National League Most Valuable Player who also collected two Gold Gloves as an NL first baseman and six Silver Sluggers. His other accolades include winning the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award and the 2022 NL Comeback Player of the Year.