HOUSTON -- With the start of Spring Training about three weeks away, the Astros’ search for a general manager appears to be narrowing, as several candidates have emerged in recent days. That list includes former Angels and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, who played 10 seasons for Houston.

A source told MLB.com that the Astros have been in touch with Ausmus about becoming their next GM, where he would work closely with long-time teammate and friend Jeff Bagwell -- one of Astros owner Jim Crane’s closest advisors. In addition, Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown has interviewed for the job, a source tells MLB.com.

“We’re still searching,” Crane said Wednesday night at the Houston Sports Awards, where he was set to receive an award for Executive of the Year. “We’re still working on it. We’ll take our time and get it right.”

When asked if he’s narrowed his search, Crane said: “Possibly.”

Crane said the Astros have interviewed both internal and external candidates.

Houston has been without a GM since Nov. 11 of last year, when James Click’s contract wasn’t renewed only days after the team won the World Series. Shortly after, Crane said the search for a new GM would last into the new year, meaning the Astros navigated the offseason with assistant GMs Bill Firkus, Andrew Ball and Charles Cook leading the baseball operations department, along with Crane and Bagwell.

Coming off their second World Series title in six seasons, the Astros’ offseason has consisted of re-signing reliever Rafael Montero to a three-year deal and left-fielder Michael Brantley to a one-year deal, as well as acquiring free-agent first baseman José Abreu on a three-year deal. The team lost 2022 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in free agency to the Mets.

Crane said on Wednesday he had not asked permission from the Brewers to interview David Stearns, the former Astros assistant GM who stepped down as the Brewers’ president of baseball operations on Oct. 28 and moved into an advisory role.

Here's more on the Astros’ potential GM candidates and some names that have been linked to the club:

Brad Ausmus
The 53-year-old Ausmus, who played for the Astros from 1997-98 and 2001-08, spent last season as the bench coach of the A’s, but he managed the Tigers for four seasons (2014-17) and Angels for one season ('19). The only front-office experience Ausmus has on his resume was a special assistant stint with the Padres shortly after his playing career ended and as a special assistant under former Angels GM Billy Eppler in '18.

Dana Brown
Brown, 55, was named Atlanta’s VP of scouting prior to the 2019 season and helped procure much of the Braves' young talent, such as Michael Harris, the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, and pitcher Spencer Strider, who finished second. Prior to Atlanta, Brown spent nine seasons as a special assistant to the GM for the Blue Jays and worked as the director of scouting for the Expos/Nationals for eight seasons from 2002-09, during which he drafted over 40 Major League players, including seven All-Stars. He began his scouting career with the Pirates in '94. He was a teammate of Craig Biggio at Seton Hall.

Bobby Evans
Evans, 53, was the GM of the Giants from the start of the 2015 season until Sept. 24, 2018. He was hired by San Francisco in '94 as a Minor League administrative assistant and worked his way up from there. He was promoted to director of Minor League operations in '98, to director of player personnel in '05 and to vice president of baseball operations in '09. Prior to the Giants, he worked in the Commissioner’s Office in New York for three years.

James Harris
Harris was promoted to the assistant GM of the Guardians last year after joining the organization in December 2016 as the director of player development. He spent most of '16 as a special assistant with the Pirates after three years as the chief of staff for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and nearly six years working at the University of Oregon. He was also a consultant for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers from 2008-12.