Albert Pujols to Interview for Houston Astros Manager Job on Thursday, Reports Say

Albert Pujols will interview in person for the Houston Astros manager job on Thursday at Daikin Park, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Dominican journalist Mike Rodriguez was first to report the interview. MLB.com reporter Brian McTaggart confirmed the report and said Pujols would arrive in Houston on Wednesday night and meet the club on Thursday. The Athletic also reported that Pujols is interviewing for the job this week. The Astros have not confirmed the interview or any candidate for the opening.

Why Houston is searching

The Astros parted ways with manager Joe Espada on October 14 after three seasons in the job. Espada went 256-229 in the regular season but 0-4 in the postseason, with Houston swept in the American League wild card round by the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and by the Chicago White Sox this season. The club then hired former major league pitcher Randy Flores as general manager, announcing the hire on Friday, October 30. Flores, who spent 11 seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals front office, is leading the manager search. He and Pujols were teammates on the 2006 Cardinals.

The case for Pujols

Pujols, 46, is a three time National League MVP and a certain future Hall of Famer after a playing career that ran from 2001 to 2022. He has long said he wants to manage in the major leagues, and he interviewed last offseason for the vacant manager jobs with the Los Angeles Angels and the San Diego Padres. His managing record so far comes from the Dominican Republic. He led Leones del Escogido to a Dominican winter league championship in January 2025, and he managed the Dominican Republic to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

One contract question would follow a hire. Pujols is in the fourth year of a 10 year, 10 million dollar personal services contract with the Angels. ESPN reported that a buyout of that deal can be negotiated if the Astros choose him as manager.

A wider field

Pujols is not the only name in the search. Reported candidates include New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, Texas Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, and Morgan Ensberg, a former Astros third baseman who has managed Tampa Bay's Triple A affiliate for the past three seasons. Reports in Houston said Ensberg will interview later this week and Urueta this weekend. Every name on that list, including Pujols, rests on reporting from outside the club. The Astros have announced no timetable for a hire, and an interview is not a job offer. What is confirmed is the vacancy, the new general manager running the search, and a Thursday meeting that, if the reports are right, puts one of the best hitters of his generation in the building.