The Houston Astros have agreed to hire Brad Ausmus as their new manager, according to a source who confirmed the news to ESPN on Wednesday. Ausmus, who is 57 years old, will leave his current position as the bench coach for the New York Yankees to lead the Houston franchise.
The decision comes after the Astros chose not to renew the contract of Joe Espada. Espada departed following the team's elimination in the wild-card series, where they were swept by the Chicago White Sox. Despite the early exit, the Astros had secured the American League West title, capping a strong regular season.
Ausmus brings a wealth of managerial experience to Houston. He previously managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014 through 2017 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. His overall managerial record stands at 386 wins and 422 losses. The Astros, under the leadership of new general manager Randy Flores, also interviewed former star Albert Pujols for the managerial vacancy before making their selection.
The team had a remarkable journey this season. After missing the postseason in 2025, the Astros finished with an 81-81 record. This marked their fifth AL West championship in the last six years. Notably, they became the first Major League Baseball team to reach the playoffs with a losing record in a non-shortened season.
The season was highlighted by the offensive production of slugger Yordan Alvarez. He won the American League batting title with a .316 average and finished fourth in the league with 42 home runs. He also placed fifth in runs batted in with 106, coming close to a Triple Crown campaign. However, the team faced significant injury challenges throughout the year.
Key players missed substantial time on the injured list. Star infielder Carlos Correa did not play after May 4, while shortstop Jeremy Pena dealt with multiple stints on the injury list. Ace pitcher Hunter Brown was out for more than three months, and All-Star closer Josh Hader did not make his season debut until June 3.
Ausmus has a deep personal connection to the Astros organization. He played for Houston for 10 of his 18 major league seasons, serving as a catcher from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2008. During his time with the team, he played alongside Jeff Bagwell, who is now a senior adviser to Astros owner Jim Crane.
In his 18-season playing career with the Padres, Tigers, Astros, and Dodgers, Ausmus recorded a .251 batting average. He hit 80 home runs and drove in 607 runs while scoring 718 runs before retiring in 2010. He has previously interviewed for positions with the Astros, seeking the managerial role in 2020 and the general manager job in 2022.
Since 2024, Ausmus has worked under manager Aaron Boone as the bench coach for the New York Yankees. The hiring news was initially reported by MLB.com, with contributions from the Associated Press.
