The Marlins will interview Astros bench coach Joe Espada for their vacant manager position today, Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweets. He’s the second known candidate to interview, after The Athletic’s Jim Bowden tweeted that Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol had also interviewed with the Marlins.
Espada, 47, was drafted in the second round of the 1996 draft by the Athletics and spent nine seasons in the minors. He made it as high as Triple-A but never got received a call up to the major leagues. After retiring in 2007, he quickly turned to coaching and held coaching and front office positions with the Marlins and Yankees before being named Astros bench coach in 2017.
Espada is a well respected member of the Astros coaching staff and has long been considered a manager in waiting. He’s already been interviewed by numerous major league teams and was a finalist for the recent Mets and Giants vacancies.
He’ll join Grifol as the only other known candidate to have an interview. It had already been reported that his current employers, the Royals, as well as the White Sox have interest in him, but the Marlins are the first known team to have given him an interview. Grifol, 53 next month, has followed a similar career trajectory to Espada. He spent nine seasons in the Mets and Twins minor leagues systems without reaching the majors, but has found success as a coach. He’s been with the Royals since 2013 but, like Espada, has been a candidate for a number of vacant managerial posts, including the recent Tigers and Orioles positions.
The Marlins are seeking a new manager after mutually agreeing to part with Don Mattingly at the end of the 2022 season. Mattingly led the team for seven seasons, but their 31-29 finish in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season was the only time they had a winning record during his tenure.
I know guy wants the job, but taking an interview during a playoff series? MIA couldn’t wait until the playoffs were over? Not everyone gets October off…
What’s the issue? There is a day off today. A few hours at some point today isn’t that big of a deal. Only thing that would stink is if Dusty retires and Espada takes the Miami job. But the guy is ready to lead a team. Hopefully he gets his chance soon.
I don’t have a problem with an interview on an off-day. You can make it work. And Espada deserves consideration for what he’s helped them do. He’ll be a big-league manager next year, whether with the Marlins, White Sox, Astros, or someone else.
I forgot AL gets a day off after a G1 – very odd scheduling.
Why would they have to wait? It’s not like this affects the playoff teams or news in any way?
Bench coach of a contending team in the middle of a series, in which today they would traditionally have a game. Typically, teams wait until after the WS to start the process, but things change. Also thought you had to have the other teams’ permission to interview, but maybe that’s a courtesy.
Typically, I ask suitors to court my wife after the WS, but that’s me.
oh crap i overlooked the fact that he’s an astros coach. You’re 10000% correct in that case, let him focus on his own team first
In todays world Espada can interview with the Marlins from the Astros bench via zoom in the middle of a game if need be. Its not like he has to hop on a plane from Seattle to Miami or something ridiculous far like that.
I like Espada for the job because i wonder even if Dusty were to retire if the Astros would give him the job or would he be passed over for another veteran like when Hinch was fired
Two guys who should be on the White Sox list who probably either get hired before or don’t even get an interview on the South Side.
Not so high on Grifol. Would be really happy with Quataro or Espada, if we’re talking bench coaches with no prior experience at the top job. For guys with said experience, Ron Washington is supposed to be a great teacher of fundamentals and Fredi Gonzalez has led teams with lesser talent to winning records, as well as being part of this year’s surprising Orioles team. I’d be good with any of those four. Bochy, too, if he can remain healthy, though that’s a big question mark.
“Ah. First base isn’t so hard. Tell him, Ron.”
“First base is incredibly hard.”
Fredi can’t go home again to Miami. We loved him down here , he does deserve another shot somewhere
White Sox should hire Ron Washington. They need fundamentals and he’s the king of fundamentals.
REPORT: WHITE SOX REACH OUT TO RON WASHINGTON FOR MANAGER JOB
soxon35th.com/report-confirms-white-sox-reach-out-…
I heard Tony La Russa was going to be available.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Astros bench coach Joe Espada will be interviewing for the White Sox’s managerial opening today. He also has an interview scheduled with the Marlins in what will be a busy day for Espada.
soxon35th.com/report-astros-joe-espada-to-intervie…
What’s Ozzie Guillen up to these days?
Halo’s could use an @ss kicker like Ozzie as their skip.
You’d get tired of him. When the team’s winning, he’s amazing. When they’re losing, he throws his players under the bus to the media. He is a great in-game manager, though. Always tried to pull his starters when the worst they could get was a ND. Managed the ‘pen pretty well, too.
Ozzie will get something.
No to White Sox
Sox first need to fire Hahn and Williams
With this being Dusty’s last year on his contact I was hoping Espada would be his replacement
If Dusty is retiring and if the Astros have intentions of offering Espada the job and Espada wants the Astros job, all the more reason to interview with the Marlins. Makes negotiating a better package with the Astros easier if they know you have another offer
It’s surprising the level of mystery and uncertainty that exists with the Astros key management positions, meaning Click and Baker. The Astros may win the World Series, yet there’s still a small chance Click, Baker and Espada are all gone because of tension between Crane and Click. BTW The owner loses these!
The owner *never* loses these.
If it comes down to it I really hope they keep Click. After Luhnow was forced out Click was the best thing the Astros could’ve hoped for
If the tension between Crane and Click is limited to Baker, then it seems resolvable. Espada might represent the solution that works for both. I always believe the GM or PoBO should pick the manager, but I also understand why Crane put Dusty in the position. That’s why it’s interesting to watch how it concludes.
It’s going to be less about the Manager than the approach by the Front Office. There’s definitely some talent, but the offense….Just one player with enough PA to qualify for the batting title (Rojas, OPS+72) and not a single one with more that 15 HR.
There’s a reason Ozzie Guillen hasn’t been a manager in 12 years.
Non of them will be selected, the # 1 candidate is and the selected one is,
Matthew John Quatraro . Simple is the most prepared and relevant in terms of knowing how to be a successful team and franchise with limited resources. He has a know how in many ways to use analytics and to max the talents and virtues of players skills. Oh! simple advice do not compromise your pitching unless overwhelm. I will consider trading only Pablo Lopez, Stalling, Garrett, Neidert and Hernanadez. Do not touch any of the main pitching prospects in the minors, that is a special commodity. Go invest some cash get either, Abreu number 1 choice or Bell and get Correa, Pham and Bellinger on the cheap because he can play center field.. It will be a ruinously idea to repeat the same mistakes of the past. Let me refresh your minds, giving away Castillo, Yelich Realmuto, Naylor… and nothing to show for. Thanks, it does not required a rocket science to put together a very competitive team with the special pitching talent that the Marlins have.
I think the FO will deal Lopez, or Garrett instead, but not both. They won’t get that much for all the others.
My favourites are Fredi González, Quatraro and Espada in that order. My only wish is someone who has evolved with the game, uses analytics, be creative, resourceful. The Marlins are a cheap ass team and that won’t change anytime soon, so anyone coming should work with what they have. One half is competitive (pitching), so half way through.
I don’t want Fredi Gonzalez back. He soured on a lot of people because of his ridiculous obsession with Renyel Pinto back then. Both were gone on the same day…hint hint.
I’m ok with a new guy breaking in.
As for trades, it’s most likely that Lopez will be the traded pitcher because of the expendable ones, he’d get the most in return in a much needed bat. I can see him moving for something like to the Yankees for a revisit of the package that involved Gleyber Torres or to Tornoto for one of their bats. After that, it could be a bidding war for a SP which would benefit the Marlins in the Pablo negotiations. But he’s the guy that I feel is most likely moved because Alcantara is obviously untouchable, and he’ll most likely be followed by a rotation of Edward Cabrera, Jesus Luzardo, Trevor Rogers, and Braxton Garrett – with Sixto Sanchez as a dark horse…and Elieser Hernandez as an emergency option.
Espada probably would be a good hire. But if the Astros thought so highly of him, they would lock him up for next year but not yet name him as manager pending what they do with Dusty. On the other hand, the Astros probably want to keep their options open with Espada being one of them, but not avoiding making any commitments at this time. He’s well liked by the Astros players and the media that covers the team, and well liked by Dusty.
Matt Quatraro would be the best choice imo. If not I say Pedro Grifol.
Great hire
Looks like they want a no name , no experience,minimum salary type of manager to hold the spot whilst they lose a 100 games a year or two or three
Wasn’t it common courtesy to not interview members of a club during an active playoff series? I’m not saying I have a problem with it, but I very much remember seeing clubs want to interview Assistant GM X, or Bench Coach Y, but needed to wait until the playoffs were over.
Grifol. Baseball guy or Harry Potter character?