Headlines

  • Phillies Place Zack Wheeler On Injured List With Blood Clot
  • Josh Hader Diagnosed With Shoulder Capsule Sprain, Hopes To Return In Playoffs
  • Nationals Request Unconditional Release Waivers On Nathaniel Lowe
  • Cubs To Promote Owen Caissie For MLB Debut
  • Astros Place Josh Hader On Injured List Due To Shoulder Strain
  • Mets To Promote Nolan McLean
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Astros Have Interviewed Joe Espada In Managerial Search

By Anthony Franco | November 7, 2023 at 11:37pm CDT

Astros bench coach Joe Espada has received an interview in the club’s managerial search, GM Dana Brown confirmed this afternoon (link via Chandler Rome of the Athletic). That’s no surprise considering he has been viewed by many as the logical choice to replace Dusty Baker atop the Houston dugout.

Espada has never managed in the big leagues but has gotten serious attention from a number of teams. He was reportedly one of the finalists in the Marlins search last offseason and has interviewed for several jobs over the years. This morning, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal listed Espada among the potential targets for the Brewers as they set out in search of Craig Counsell’s replacement.

Curiously, Brown told reporters today that the Astros would not grant permission for Espada to interview with Milwaukee until Houston had made its own decision. However, Rome reports that Espada’s contract with the Astros expired on October 31 — thereby negating Houston’s ability to block him from speaking with other teams.

That the Astros have considered trying to prevent Espada from interviewing elsewhere at least seems to suggest he’s a legitimate candidate for the Houston job. Brown pushed back against characterizing the 48-year-old (or anyone else) as the favorite but confirmed Espada was the only in-house person under consideration. That rules out first base coach Omar López, who had been floated as a potential option in the immediate aftermath of Baker’s retirement. Brown added that another team’s bench coach without MLB managerial experience (whom he did not name) is among the other candidates.

Espada has spent the past six seasons as Houston bench coach, holding the position under both A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker. Before that, he’d logged three seasons on the Yankees staff. Espada has managed for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic but has no experience doing so in the affiliated ranks.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Joe Espada

Twins Planning To Reduce Payroll
Main
Mariners Looking To Add High-Contact Hitters
View Comments (17)
Post a Comment

17 Comments

  1. Flanster

    2 years ago

    Just make him the manager already

    14
    Reply
    • I.M. Insane

      2 years ago

      No!!

      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        2 years ago

        Insane – Wait a minute, the article says “replace Dusty Baker atop the Houston dugout”.

        So Dusty was a cheerleader? Yeah, Espada can handle that.

        Reply
  2. Astros_fan_in_Aus

    2 years ago

    Just appoint him and let’s get moving.

    8
    Reply
  3. websoulsurfer

    2 years ago

    Ray Montgomery to be the next Astros manager.

    Reply
  4. MLB Top 100 Commenter

    2 years ago

    Espada would be a great choice for Milwaukee or Anaheim. Astros know they either promote him or “Click” and he is gone.

    6
    Reply
  5. oscar gamble

    2 years ago

    Espada to Milwaukee.

    2
    Reply
  6. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    Sounds like he has a shot at multiple places. It boils down to it is up to Houston whether it is with them or not.

    Reply
  7. texgal01

    2 years ago

    Espada Astros Montgomery send to Milwaukee. NO TO MONTGOMERY DUE TO HE IS FRIEND OF BAGWELL

    3
    Reply
  8. ❤️ MuteButton

    2 years ago

    None of us are really privy to the inside information we would need to make a call on who the manager should be. Based on what I am able to observe, I think Espada is the best choice and Ausmus would be the worst.

    2
    Reply
  9. Astro fan 111

    2 years ago

    If Dusty had retired after 2022 Espada would have been an easy choice to replace him. But he didn’t and the Astros regressed in almost every area of the game in 2023. Crane and company need to be sure Espada was not part of the problem in 2023 and that he can correct whatever went wrong.

    Reply
    • davengmusic

      2 years ago

      What went wrong was Dusty Baker. A shopping cart could have won the 2022 world series with the Astros, and even Baker couldn’t mess that up. Not winning, and especially the way they lost the ALCS, just reminded everyone he’s not that good of a game manager (great clubhouse guy otherwise)

      1
      Reply
      • ❤️ MuteButton

        2 years ago

        Dusty Baker not playing Yainer Diaz and his reluctance to hand the centerfield job over to Chaz McCormick were hugely detrimental

        1
        Reply
  10. Almond joys are awful

    2 years ago

    How can the Astros deny him from interviewing with Milwaukee when his contract expired October 31st? He’s not an employee of the Astros anymore

    Reply
  11. No Soup For Yu!

    2 years ago

    “Curiously, Brown told reporters today that the Astros would not grant permission for Espada to interview with Milwaukee until Houston had made its own decision. However, Rome reports that Espada’s contract with the Astros expired on October 31 — thereby negating Houston’s ability to block him from speaking with other teams.”

    How is someone unaware of their coaching staff’s contract situations allowed to operate a baseball team? Next he’ll say the bullpen seems set with Maton, Neris and Stanek all returning. Is Brown seriously this stupid?

    2
    Reply
  12. HankAaronDidGreenies

    2 years ago

    The Eric Bieniemy of MLB coaches. People have been interviewing him for over a decade and nobody seems to want him. There is probably a good reason as to why.

    1
    Reply
    • thickiedon

      2 years ago

      Akin to Sandy Alomar

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Phillies Place Zack Wheeler On Injured List With Blood Clot

    Josh Hader Diagnosed With Shoulder Capsule Sprain, Hopes To Return In Playoffs

    Nationals Request Unconditional Release Waivers On Nathaniel Lowe

    Cubs To Promote Owen Caissie For MLB Debut

    Astros Place Josh Hader On Injured List Due To Shoulder Strain

    Mets To Promote Nolan McLean

    Pohlad Family No Longer Pursuing Sale Of Twins

    Felix Bautista, Zach Eflin Done For The Season

    Shane McClanahan Undergoes Season-Ending Arm Procedure To Address Nerve Problem

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition

    Write For MLB Trade Rumors

    Red Sox Extend Roman Anthony

    Buxton: Still No Plans To Waive No-Trade Clause

    Rob Manfred Downplays Salary Cap Dispute With Bryce Harper

    Tanner Houck To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Yankees Release Marcus Stroman

    Cubs Release Ryan Pressly

    Cubs To Host 2027 All-Star Game

    MLB Trade Tracker: July

    Padres Acquire Mason Miller, JP Sears

    Recent

    Phillies Place Zack Wheeler On Injured List With Blood Clot

    Braves Outright Davis Daniel

    Kyle Stowers To Miss Several Weeks With Side Strain

    Jon Gray Goes Unclaimed On Waivers

    Red Sox Expected To Show Interest In Nathaniel Lowe

    Josh Hader Diagnosed With Shoulder Capsule Sprain, Hopes To Return In Playoffs

    Phillies Notes: Duran, Bohm, Nola

    Nationals Request Unconditional Release Waivers On Nathaniel Lowe

    Pirates To Move Andrew Heaney To Bullpen Role

    Blue Jays Reinstate George Springer From Injured List

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Every MLB Trade In July
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2026-27 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version