HOUSTON -- New Astros general manager Randy Flores will interview a pair of his former teammates later this week for the club’s vacant managerial opening -- former Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols and former Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg -- sources told MLB.com on Wednesday.
The club has not confirmed the news.
Flores, hired Friday by the Astros as the team’s 15th GM, was Pujols' teammate with the Cardinals from 2004-08, winning the World Series in '06. Pujols is scheduled to arrive in Houston late Wednesday and interview Thursday at Daikin Park, a source said. Flores was teammates with Ensberg at USC from 1995-97.
The Astros appear to be moving quickly to find the replacement for Joe Espada, with Flores set to attend the General Managers Meetings next week in Las Vegas. The Astros will also interview Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Flores, at his introductory news conference Monday at Daikin Park, said trust, energy and chemistry were three qualities he would seek in a manager.
“We can talk about game management all we want; we can talk about in-game development, we can talk about development in the big leagues, we can talk about bullpen usage and arsenal of creation and the right levers to pull in line of construction,” Flores said. “But the first thing you're looking for is that fishbowl of pressure, of wins -- when tonight's game matters more than anything else -- looking to find someone that I can trust and can communicate with.”
Pujols, who has hit more home runs against the Astros than any other player -- including a stunning, three-run go-ahead homer in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS in Houston -- is currently under contract with the Angels. He signed a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract (which kicked in after his retirement in 2022) as part of his $240 million deal with the Angels before the 2012 season.
The 46-year-old slugger interviewed with the Angels and Padres last offseason before they filled their managerial vacancies for the 2026 season with Kurt Suzuki and Craig Stammen, respectively.
Although he doesn’t yet have experience as an MLB manager, Pujols did manage Leones del Escogido to the Dominican Winter League title in 2024-25. He also helmed Team Dominican Republic during this year’s World Baseball Classic. Pujols’ star-studded WBC club finished in third place.
Pujols 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 and win two World Series and 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.
Ensberg, 51, has spent the past 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.
Ensberg was drafted by the Astros in the ninth round out of USC in 1998 and played seven of his eight big league seasons in a Houston uniform, where he was teammates with Astros senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations Jeff Bagwell. His best year came in 2005, when he slashed .283/.388/.557 with 36 homers and 101 RBIs, finishing fourth in the MVP voting while being named an All-Star and winning a Silver Slugger Award. The Astros reached the World Series that season.
On Thursday, former Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, who spent the last three years as the Yankees bench coach, interviewed with club officials for the GM job that went to Flores, but a source said the role of Houston manager was discussed. Ausmus, a close friend of Bagwell, 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, 57, caught more games than any 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 the World Series in ’05. He was a teammate of Bagwell and Ensberg in Houston.
Ausmus hit .246 with 41 homers and 386 RBIs with the Astros, but he 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.
Ausmus managed the Tigers from 2014-17, and the Angels in '19, going a combined 386-422.