Pujols in the Frame as Astros Begin Manager Search

One of baseball's great names is back in the managerial conversation. Albert Pujols is reportedly interviewing for the Houston Astros' manager job, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, in a development that would pair one of the game's most decorated hitters with one of its most scrutinized clubs. Former Astros player and current Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also on Houston's list, giving the club two very different kinds of candidate: a Hall of Fame-caliber presence with instant clubhouse gravity, and a seasoned former manager with bench-coach experience. Pujols, famous for one of the most iconic postseason home runs in Astros history — against Houston, in 2005 — would bring instant credibility to any dugout, though a first managerial job at a win-now club is never a gentle introduction. The Astros' search is one of the early offseason's most watched storylines, and Pujols's involvement alone guarantees it stays that way. Separately, the Tampa Bay Rays have exercised Drew Rasmussen's 20 million dollar option for 2027 and, according to the Tampa Bay Times, intend to keep their ace despite trade speculation.