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Alan Ashby, a former Houston Astros catcher for 11 seasons and Astros radio broadcaster for eight season before moving up to broadcast Toronto Blue Jays games, has reportedly been given permission to speak with the Astros about a return to their radio booth.
The Toronto Sun's Bob Elliot was first with the news that Ashby, a resident of Houston, was allowed to speak with the Astros about a vacancy created when Milo Hamilton announced he would be retiring and Brett Dolan and Dave Raymond's contracts would not be renewed.
Ashby has provided color commentary for Blue Jays games alongside play-by-play man Jerry Howarth since 2007.
Before joining the radio booth with the Astros in 1998, Ashby served as a minor league manager with the Astros Single-A affiliate and then as bullpen coach for Houston in the 1997 season.
A successful catcher, Ashby collected more than 1,000 hits and more than 500 RBI in a 17-year career with the Astors, Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians.