What happened: Brad Ausmus expressed excitement following his appointment as manager of the Houston Astros. Ausmus thanked general manager Randy Flores and the organization, noting that the franchise and the city have been central to his baseball career.

Why it matters: The hiring marks the first major dugout move under Flores, who took over front-office operations in late October ahead of the 2027 campaign. Houston officially hired Brad Ausmus after he spent the past season as bench coach for the New York Yankees.

What to watch: The Astros will formally introduce Ausmus alongside Flores during a Friday morning press conference at Daikin Park.