Before the 1997 season, the Astros traded for catcher Brad Ausmus. After manager Larry Dierker made known his intentions to have Ausmus start a vast majority of games, Eusebio requested to be traded from the team. Dierker would later agree to give Eusebio more playing time, although the manager made it clear he wished Eusebio would improve his defensive skills. However, as the season wore on, Eusebio would gradually see less playing time due to a nagging knee injury. His playing time would later be reduced to only catching when Darryl Kile pitched, and the injury would force him to have arthroscopic surgery during the offseason.