Former Astro Ausmus in the running for open managerial role (sources)

HOUSTON -- Just days after announcing Randy Flores was set to take over as general manager, the Astros are already working to try to fill their vacant managerial role.

The Astros are expected to move fast to try to fill their managerial void now that Flores is in the fold and the General Managers Meetings begin next week in Las Vegas. One name who could be in the running for Astros manager, considering he’s interviewed for the job previously and his close ties to senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations Jeff Bagwell, is longtime Astros catcher Brad Ausmus.

Multiple sources said Sunday that Ausmus was in the offices at Daikin Park on Thursday -- the day before Flores was hired after eight seasons as assistant GM in St. Louis. Flores will be introduced to the media at a press conference Monday at Daikin Park. The Astros will then turn their attention to finding a manager to replace Joe Espada, whose contract wasn’t renewed after three seasons on the job.

While the club has not confirmed, Ausmus -- who has spent the last three seasons as the bench coach of the Yankees -- was interviewing in Houston for the GM position Thursday, another source said late Sunday, but there’s still a chance the Astros could give him another look to be manager. Ausmus interviewed for the manager job in 2020 before it went to Dusty Baker. He was also a finalist for the GM job with the Astros before Dana Brown was hired prior to the ’23 season.

Ausmus managed the Tigers from 2014-17 and the Angels in '19, going a combined 386-422.

Ausmus, 57, caught more games than any other catcher in Houston history during his 10 seasons with the Astros, which included division titles in the NL Central in 1997-98 and runs to the NLCS in 2004 and World Series in ’05. Ausmus hit .246 with 41 homers and 386 RBIs with the Astros, but was known for his defense. He won three Gold Gloves with Houston and caught a star-studded staff in ’04 and ’05 that included Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt.​

Flores’ deep St. Louis ties -- he pitched five years for the Cardinals, winning a World Series in 2006 -- could lead him to take a look at a pair of former teammates as manager candidates here. Former Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols and former catcher Yadier Molina have both expressed a desire to manage in the Major Leagues.

Molina has managed Puerto Rico in the last two World Baseball Classics, while Pujols managed the Dominican Republic in this year’s WBC. A 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and one of the best defensive catchers of his or any era, Molina has also built up his managerial credentials by piloting successful teams in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, and he was recently hired by Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom as a special assistant.

Pujols, who has hit more homers against the Astros (62) than any other player -- accumulating his total in stints with the Cardinals and then later the Angels -- has a strong desire to manage in the Major Leagues. He led Leones del Escogido to both the Dominican Professional Baseball League and the Caribbean Series titles after the 2025 season.

Pujols, 46, retired as a player after the 2022 season, reaching incredible milestones such as 703 homers, 686 doubles and 2,218 RBIs over a 22-year career that saw him get named an All-Star 11 times, win two World Series and win three NL MVP Awards. He played with the Cardinals from 2001-11 and again in '22 and the Angels from 2012-21 in addition to a stint with the Dodgers in '21.

Another name to watch for manager is former Astros All-Star third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who was a teammate of Flores’ at USC.

Ensberg, 51, has spent the last three seasons managing the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rays. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as manager for Tampa Bay's Double-A affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits, leading them to four postseason berths. He’s also managed in the Arizona Fall League and in winter ball in Venezuela.