Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros’ managerial vacancy this week, a person with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Astros have not publicly identified their managerial candidates, which also include New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus.
Pujols, who interviewed last year for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres managerial vacancies, has expressed his strong desire to manage since his retirement after the 2022 season. He managed the Dominican Republic to third place in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and led Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League to the 2025 Caribbean Series championship.
“For me, I’ve
always been serious about everything that I do in this game," Pujols told USA TODAY Sports last season, “and now I’m serious about managing. This game has done so much for me, and now, I want to give back. I’m ready.’’
If Pujols lands the job, it would reunite him with new Astros general manager Randy Flores, his former St. Louis Cardinals teammate, when they won the 2006 World Series together. Pujols, who becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, would be the first 700-homer hitter to manage in the major leagues.
Flores would not confirm or deny that Pujols will be interviewed, but said Monday during his introductory press conference that he hopes to have an immediate resolution to fill their managerial opening.
“I think there are rules on tampering that don’t permit me to talk directly about employees from other organizations,” Flores said Monday. “I will say that I will lean on network, experience and expertise to help this club move forward.”
Pujols technically is still employed by the Angels. He is four years into a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract that was part of his 10-year, $240 million contract as a player.
“He’s ready," Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who managed Pujols 11 years in St. Louis, said last year. “And he’s going to be great. You talk about integrity. You talk about his IQ. You talk about his discipline. I call him APP, Albert Perfect Pujols. When a guy has that much to offer, and has so much love for the game, the game benefits when he wants to stay active and share."
The Astros and Angels are the only two teams that have a current managerial vacancy with the Seattle Mariners hiring Jason Kanzler on Monday, despite having no managerial experience at any level.
“I’d love the opportunity to give back to the game of baseball," Pujols said. “I know I don’t have the experience as a manager, but 23 years in this game, you go through a lot. I’m talking about experience from baseball, being on the field and in the locker room. It’s not going from a university to try to be a manager and not having any baseball experience. Old-school mentality can help young mentality.
“I’ve learned from some of the best managers in the game. I believe with my experience, and the way I can communicate with players, I can have success."
Before moving to the American League West in 2013, the Astros were NL Central rivals with Pujols' Cardinals. The teams met in the NL Championship Series in 2004 and 2005, with Pujols winning NLCS MVP in 2004 after batting .500 (14-for-28) with 4 HR and 9 RBIs in the seven-game series. The Cardinals lost in six games in 2005, but Pujols hit a legendary game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 5 that delayed Houston's first World Series trip.
Pujols' 1,265 career at-bats against the Astros are his most against any team in the regular season.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Astros hire Albert Pujols? Houston interviewing future Hall of Famer
