The Houston Astros are on the hunt for AJ Hinch's replacement as the team's manager, and several candidates have already been identified.

Owner Jim Crane is considering experienced skippers Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker, and Buck Showalter, in addition to Astros bench coach Joe Espada, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will interview for the position Thursday, sources told Mark Berman of Fox 26. Gibbons and the Blue Jays parted ways after the 2018 season following six campaigns in his second stint north of the border.

The Astros fired Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow on Monday for their connection to a sign-stealing scandal dating back to 2017. Both received one-year suspensions from Major League Baseball as well.

Bochy retired at the end of the 2019 season after helming the San Francisco Giants for 13 seasons, a tenure that included three World Series titles. The 64-year-old also managed the San Diego Padres from 1995-2006.

Baker last managed in MLB in 2017 when he served as the Washington Nationals' bench boss. He owns a record of 1,863-1,636 over a career split between the Nationals, Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds.

Showalter managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2010-18. Under his watch, the Orioles won one AL East title (2014) and reached the postseason three times. He previously served as skipper for the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Texas Rangers.

Houston's list of potential candidates also reportedly includes former Rangers manager Jeff Banister, Cubs third-base coach Will Venable, and Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Raul Ibanez.

The Astros are hoping to find both a new manager and a new general manager by early February, a source told McTaggart, so a decision should be coming soon.