The Astros reportedly made their decision on who will replace Joe Espada on November 11. Per reports, including MLB.com, former Astros catcher Brad Ausmus will leave the Yankees’ bench to assume the role of field manager for Houston.

Ausmus back in Houston

It’s a return home of sorts for Brad Ausmus, who spent years with the Houston Astros during the 2000s and was the backstop for the club’s NL pennant-winning team in 2005.

Ausmus started his managerial career in 2014 with one of the other teams he played for, the Tigers. With Detroit, he won 90 games that season and helped guide the Tigers to the playoffs. After that season, the Tigers won 86 games in 2016 but had losing campaigns in 2015 and 2017.

He spent one season in Los Angeles in 2019, replacing longtime manager Mike Scioscia. The Angels went 72-90 under Ausmus’ watch. He spent the past several years as the Yankees’ bench coach, working with Aaron Boone.

Now, he assumes a team that won the AL West in 2026 and will likely return the vast majority of their lineup from last season, which included Yordan Alvarez, Christian Walker, Jeremy Pena, and Jose Altuve, among others.

It’s the first big move made by former Cardinals pitcher and front office executive Randy Flores, who took over as general manager. The move also reunites Ausmus with Jeff Bagwell, a teammate of his with Houston and a part of the front office for the Astros.

Speaking of the Angels, Los Angeles is now the only team in the Majors not to have named a manager for 2027 at this point. The club opted not to retain Kurt Suzuki after the 2026 season.

Ausmus, by the way, is the second hiring of the winter as far as managers are concerned. Earlier in November, the Mariners hired Jason Kanzler as manager for 2027.

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