Future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols is en route to Houston and will interview for the Astros' managerial vacancy this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Five days ago, the Astros named former St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores their new general manager. Before joining the Cardinals' front office -- first as director of scouting, then as assistant general manager -- Flores was a left-handed pitcher who spent eight years in the big leagues. Five of those years were spent as Pujols' teammate in St. Louis, including a championship-winning season in 2006.
Pujols has made no secret about his desire to manage in the big leagues since retiring as a player in 2022. He won a championship in the Dominican winter league in his first season leading the Leones del Escogido in January 2025 and served as manager for the Dominican Republic in this year's World Baseball Classic, which saw his native country lose to the U.S. in the semifinals.
During Major League Baseball's last hiring cycle, Pujols was a finalist for vacancies with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres before they hired rookie managers in Kurt Suzuki and Craig Stammen, respectively.
Pujols' in-person interview for the Astros' vacancy, scheduled for Thursday, will be his first with the organization, which is still sorting through candidates. New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also among those being considered, sources tell ESPN.
Pujols is still tied to the Angels through a 10-year, $10 million personal-services contract that is approaching its fifth year, but a buyout can be negotiated if the Astros choose him as their manager. The 46-year-old is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028 and is widely expected to get in on the first ballot.
Dominican journalist Mike Rodriguez was first to report the news.
ESPN's Jeff Passan contributed to this report.