The Houston Astros said Wednesday they will not renew the contract of manager Joe Espada, whose deal runs out at the end of October, NBC Sports reported. The decision arrived alongside a wide reshuffling of the coaching staff. Espada is now free to pursue the managerial opening with the Seattle Mariners, who plan to sit down with him, Sports Illustrated reported.
Team owner Jim Crane praised Espada in a statement. “We are thankful for Joe’s hard work,” Crane said, according to NBC Sports. Espada, who is 51, finished with a 256-229 record across three seasons as Houston’s manager. He moved up from the bench coach role once Dusty Baker stepped away at the close of 2023. His first campaign in charge produced an AL West title, but the club was eliminated in the wild card round by the Detroit Tigers.
Staff changes follow a difficult 2026 season
The club also cut ties with five people who worked on the coaching staff. Tim Cossins, who handled the catchers, is gone. Tommy Kawamura, who planned games, is also out, along with Tony Perezchica, who coached third base, and two assistants, Anthony Iapoce on hitting and Ethan Katz on pitching. Bench coach Omar Lopez was offered a new role inside the organization, NBC Sports said. Josh Miller stays on as pitching coach, and Victor Rodriguez keeps the hitting job. Dave Clark and Jason Bell also remain, handling first base and field coordination.
The shake-up follows a 2026 season in which Houston finished 81-81, won the AL West and then lost two straight games to Chicago in the wild card round. Sports Illustrated noted that those 81 wins were the lowest total ever for a playoff club, and it argued that the record cannot be pinned on Espada alone. General manager Dana Brown was fired in August, which leaves the franchise searching for both a manager and a general manager.
What comes next for Espada and the Mariners
Seattle is the only other team with an open managerial job. Sports Illustrated reported that the Mariners dismissed manager Dan Wilson and parted ways with four members of their coaching staff, so whoever takes over there will likely want a say in assembling the dugout. Fox News reported that the interim managers in Boston and New York are staying with those clubs, which leaves Houston and Seattle as the only teams with openings.
SB Nation reported that Houston can take its time because Seattle is the only other club still looking for a manager. Espada, who was born in Puerto Rico, is the second Latino manager in Astros history, NBC Sports noted. The reports did not say when his interview with the Mariners will take place, or whether Houston will name a general manager before it hires a new manager. The Astros have not yet said who will lead the club next season.
