One of the greatest MLB players of all time will be meeting for another open managerial position. St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols will reportedly meet with the Houston Astros to discuss the team’s managerial vacancy, according to The Athletic.
It’s not the first time Pujols has been interviewed to be an MLB manager. He interviewed for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres last season, although he was not selected for either position.
The Padres chose to hire Craig Stammen. The Angels were able to get Pujols involved, but the two sides were unable to agree on contract terms, resulting in the Angels turning to Kurt Suzuki, who had accepted a one-year deal with the team. The Angels didn’t want to bring Suzuki back for 2027 and are looking for a new manager again this offseason.
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While Pujols hasn’t managed in the major leagues, he has experience as a catcher. Following his retirement from baseball after the 2022 season, Pujols was named manager of the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic in 2024. He helped lead the team to victories in the 2024-25 Series Final season and the 2025 Caribbean Series. Pujols also managed the Dominican Republic Team to a third-place finish in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Pujols should have a friendly audience when he attends his interview, as he has been with new Astros general manager Randy Flores teammates. Parr spent four seasons with the Cardinals, including a World Series-winning 2006.
Flores was asked about the ability to speak with former teammates about the Astros’ managerial opening when he was introduced as the team’s general manager. At the time, he declined to get into specifics, saying he would rely on “network, experience and expertise” with the candidates being considered. In addition to Pujols, the team is expected to speak with Luis Urueta, the coach of the Texas Rangers, and Brad Ausmus, the bench coach of the New York Yankees, according to The Athletic.
The Astros are in the market for a new manager with Joe Espada departing in October. Espada played three seasons as the team’s captain, posting a record of 256-229.
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Despite his regular-season success, Espada is gone in the 2026 MLB season in the final year of his contract. The Astros indicated they would not bring the manager back in October, allowing him to interview for the Seattle Mariners’ open manager’s office despite Espada still technically under contract in Houston. The Mariners opted to hire Jason Kanzler instead.
Regardless of the Astros’ earnings in the year ahead, they will be expected. Although Houston won just 81 games in 2026, that was enough for the season where the Astros lost in the wild card round to the Chicago White Sox. The results are disappointing for the Astros, who have made the streak in 10 of the past 12 seasons.