The Astros are hiring New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, who played 10 of his 18 MLB seasons in Houston, as the team’s new manager, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Ausmus, 57, has previously served as manager of the Detroit Tigers (2014-17) and Los Angeles Angels (2019). He has a career record of 386-422.
He will replace Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed after the American League West champions were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the wild-card series.
The Astros, with new general manager Randy Flores, also interviewed Albert Pujos for the job, sources told ESPN.
After missing the playoffs in 2025, the Astros went 81-81 this season to win the AL West for the fifth time in six years, becoming the first big league club without a winning record to reach the playoffs in a non-shortened season.
Slugger Yordan Alvarez flirted with the AL Triple Crown, ultimately winning the batting title (.316) and finishing fourth in the majors in home runs (42) and fifth in RBIs (106). Injuries also took a toll this season. Star infielder Carlos Correa didn’t play after May 4, shortstop Jeremy Pena had multiple IL stints, ace Hunter Brown missed three-plus months and All-Star closer Josh Hader didn’t make his season debut until June 3.
Ausmus, who retired as a player in 2010, served as the Astros’ catcher from 1997 to ’98 and again from 2001 to 2008. During those years, he played alongside Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, who is now a senior advisor to Astros owner Jim Crane.
Ausmus interviewed for the Astros managerial vacancy in 2020 and again for the general manager job in 2022.
He has served as Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the Yankees since 2024.
In 18 MLB seasons with the Padres, Tigers, Astros and Dodgers, Ausmus had a .251 batting average with 80 home runs, 607 RBIs and 718 runs.
MLB.com first reported that the Astros were hiring Ausmus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
