Potential candidates to become next Astros manager

HOUSTON -- The Astros’ search for a new manager is underway after the club announced on Wednesday that Joe Espada would not return in 2027. That ended Espada’s three-year tenure at the helm in Houston, where he won a pair of American League West titles.

Here are 10 names to watch as possible managerial candidates for the Astros:

Brad Ausmus

The longtime Astros catcher was a finalist for the Houston managerial job in 2020, a position that went to Dusty Baker. He’s also interviewed for the team’s general manager job previously, as well. Ausmus managed the Tigers from 2014-17, and the Angels in '19, going a combined 386-422 in those stints, and he has spent the last three years as bench coach under Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. Ausmus is close friends with Jeff Bagwell, the Astros' senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations.

Jeff Banister

The former AL Manager of the Year with the Rangers (2015), and current Diamondbacks bench coach, interviewed with the Astros previously and he would be interested in a return to his hometown (he played at the University of Houston). Banister managed the Rangers from 2015-18, where he won two AL West titles while compiling a 325-313 (.509) record.

Morgan Ensberg

A former All-Star third baseman with the Astros, Ensberg 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.

John Gibbons

Gibbons was dismissed a year ago after two seasons as bench coach for the Mets. He has 11 years of managerial experience in two stints with Toronto (2004-08 and 2013-18). Between, he spent time in the Royals and Padres organizations. During his second stint in Toronto, Gibbons led the Blue Jays to the ALCS in 2015 and ’16 -- their first postseason appearances since winning back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-93. A native of San Antonio, his career record is 793-789.

Brandon Hyde

The AL Manager of the Year with the Orioles in 2023, Hyde was fired by Baltimore after a 15-28 start in '25, and he is currently an advisor with the Rays. Baltimore won an AL-best 101 games in 2023 to win the AL East title and was 91-71 the next season, earning a Wild Card berth, but the O's went a combined 0-5 in two postseason appearances. He was 421-492 as manager in Baltimore. Notably, he’s Espada’s brother-in-law.

Danny Lehmann

Lehmann, who was a contender for the Braves’ managerial position last year, has spent the last four seasons as bench coach under Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Lehmann went to high school in the Houston area and played at Rice University before being drafted by the Twins. Lehmann joined the Dodgers as an advance video scout in 2015, was game planning and communications coach in 2018 and '20-22, before becoming bench coach prior to the '23 season.

Rodney Linares

After 21 seasons in the Astros’ organization, Linares has spent the last eight seasons with the Rays -- four as third-base coach and the last four as bench coach. He was a manager in Houston’s system for 12 seasons, including Triple-A Fresno (2018), Double-A Corpus Christi (2015-17) and other stops, where he managed Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve. Linares began his coaching career in 1999 as a coach and scout for the Astros’ Dominican Republic operations and he remained in that role through the 2004 season before serving as the hitting coach for Single-A Lexington from 2005-06. His father, Julio, spent decades in Houston’s organization.

Martín Maldonado

The former Astros catcher has long had a desire to manage in the Major Leagues and join the list of former big league catchers who ascended to that role. With that in mind, Maldonado will manage Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League this year. He spent last season as a special assistant with the Braves.

Albert Pujols

Yes, that Albert Pujols. The man who has hit more homers against the Astros than any other player -- both 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 and managed the Dominican Republic in this year’s World Baseball Classic. Pujols retired as a player after the 2022 season.

David Ross

Ross, who won two World Series titles during his 15-year playing career as a catcher, went 262-284 as manager of the Cubs from 2020-23, including a division title in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Ross, who was the bullpen coach for the United States during this year’s World Baseball Classic, has also been an on-air analyst for ESPN.