The Houston Astros are moving into a new era, and the manager search is already getting spicy.
Joe Espada was let go after the 2026 season, and while it’s tough to pin too much of that on him with a flawed, aging roster, it’s just as hard to argue he turned things around. Once the Astros hire a new general manager, the clean break makes sense: let the new front office pick its own manager and start fresh.
That opens the door to some familiar names. With Jim Crane still running the show, Brad Ausmus and/or Martin Maldonado figure to come up, if only because the Astros seem to keep those options on speed dial. But the name that really jumps off the page is Albert Pujols.
Astros insider Brian McTaggart included Pujols on his list of possible managerial candidates, and even without reporting that anything was close, that alone says plenty. McTaggart noted that Pujols has long wanted to manage in the big leagues and already has some experience from the World Baseball Classic and winter ball. Crane, for his part, recently made clear that a lack of experience would not necessarily stop the Astros from making a hire.
That’s where things get fun for everyone except the Angels.
Pujols would be the kind of hire that would light up the division and rattle a few fan bases. Cardinals fans would have plenty to say about a former division rival landing the future Hall of Famer, but the Angels angle is the real chaos here.
Under Arte Moreno, the Angels had been interested in a reunion with Pujols, and even though Moreno has since sold the team, current Angels front office head John Mozeliak knows Pujols extremely well from his long run as general manager in St. Louis.
The timing around the Angels’ decision to move on from manager Kurt Suzuki only adds to the intrigue. Mozeliak had praised Suzuki for handling a tough situation, then Suzuki was out a few weeks later. Something changed, and Astros interest in Pujols may have played a part in reshaping that plan.
For now, the Astros appear to be in the midst of their front office transition, with the team expected to announce its decision soon. After that, don’t be surprised if Pujols’ name keeps popping up - whether the Astros are serious or just making life a little more uncomfortable for a division rival.
In Other News...
Astros GM Search Is Starting To Hint At One Big Direction
The Astros search for a new general manager is moving along with a familiar in-house feel. After Dana Browns departure in late August, Houston has been working through its options, and owner Jim Crane has made clear the club is not limiting itself to candidates who have already run a baseball operations department. That openness matters, because it suggests the front office is willing to think a little differently about who could guide the organization next.
At least some of the early interviews have come from within the building, with assistant general managers Gavin Dickey and Charles Cook among those in the mix. It remains to be seen whether that internal presence ultimately carries the day or whether the Astros widen the search further, but the timeline is firm enough to keep the process moving. The club would like to have its next GM in place before the end of the World Series, which gives this search a little more urgency than a typical offseason hiring cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Make A Pitching Hire Fans Will Definitely Notice
The Astros have added a familiar modern-development name to their pitching operation, hiring Spencer Medick as their new director of pitching. Medick arrives with a background in data-driven player development and four years of coaching in the Yankees' minor league system, giving Houston another voice aimed at sharpening how it identifies, shapes and advances arms throughout the organization.
Medicks job will be broad but not game-day visible, since hell oversee pitching development across the system rather than work as an on-field coach during games. Its the kind of behind-the-scenes hire that can quietly matter a lot for an organization like Houston, where the pitching pipeline has long been a central part of the clubs identity and where the next wave of arms will be watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Tough Infield Decision That Could Reshape The Lineup
The Astros are heading into the offseason with an infield logjam that few clubs would envy. Five players are in the mix for four spots, with Isaac Paredes, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and Christian Walker all needing at-bats and defensive innings, and that kind of crowding almost always forces a difficult choice somewhere down the line.
For Houston, the bigger question may not be who starts where, but which infielder could be used to help solve other roster needs. The front office is expected to explore trade possibilities as it weighs the fit, the contracts and the overall balance of the roster, and the uncertainty around that group gives this winter a chance to reshape the lineup in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]