Former Angels Manager Returns To AL West After Landing Astros' Job

A familiar face will return to the American League West in 2027 after the Houston Astros hired Brad Ausmus as their next manager. Ausmus, most recently a bench coach with the New York Yankees, managed the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.

Ausmus started out as a special assistant to the Angels' general manager at the time, Billy Epler, in 2018. After that season, the Angels’ long-time manager, Mike Scioscia, had stepped away after being the club’s skipper since 2000. In the aftermath of the huge loss of a franchise legend, Ausmus ended up taking over the managerial spot for 2019.

It wouldn’t be his first chance at the helm, as Ausmus managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014 to 2017. During his time in Detroit, Ausmus led the Tigers to a 314-332 record and a postseason appearance thanks to a 90-win campaign in 2014.

The Angels put Ausmus in a tough spot in 2019, expected to guide the Halos into a new, unknown era. As expected, it didn’t go great for Ausmus. The Angels finished 72-90 that season, their worst record since the 1999 season.

Ausmus and the Angels parted ways after the 2019 season, but Ausmus remained a coach across baseball. He returned to the AL West in 2022 as a bench coach for the Oakland Athletics before heading to the Yankees as their bench coach, where he has been for the past three seasons.

Now, Ausmus returns to the AL West yet again as the newest Astros manager. There’s more optimism around this go-around as manager for Ausmus, as he lands with a Houston team that made the postseason and is in what was the weakest division in baseball last season. It also helps that he played in Houston for 10 seasons during his playing career.

As the Astros' catcher in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ausmus won three Gold Glove Awards and accumulated a 5.0 bWAR. He and the Astros are hoping the reunion will provide a much-needed boost to the club in 2027.

On the Angels' side of things, they are still looking to fill their managerial opening. New reports indicate last season’s manager Kurt Suzuki will return to the Angels after accepting a special assistant role. While Suzuki stays in town in a different capacity, the Halos need to find their next skipper before other clubs around the league dry out the pool.