The Houston Astros are hiring Joe Espada as their manager following Dusty Baker’s retirement last month, turning to their longtime bench coach as they look to continue a record-setting run of seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.
An official announcement is expected Monday.
Espada, 48 years old, has been on the Astros’ bench since 2018, a year after Houston won a World Series title that has since been marred by the revelation of a sign-stealing scandal. Espada had previously been a coach with the New York Yankees, and prior to that he had coached with the Miami Marlins following a nine-year playing career in the minor and independent leagues.
Espada remained with the Astros after the firing of manager A.J. Hinch in the wake of the sign-stealing allegations and served as a key cog of the staff as it transitioned to Baker taking over.
Embed from Getty ImagesBaker, who managed the Astros to the World Series title in 2022, retired following Houston’s loss to eventual champion Texas Rangers in the ALCS this season.
The Astros will return the nucleus of their team that won the AL West this year. Left fielder Yordan Álvarez, second baseman Jose Altuve, right fielder Kyle Tucker, third baseman Alex Bregman and starters Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier are all under contract for next year, though Altuve, Bregman and Verlander all are set to hit free agency after the 2024 season.
The news of Espada’s hiring, first reported by USA Today, will go over well in the clubhouse, where he is well liked and respected. Espada is seen by players as a well-rounded coach whose leadership skills helped fill a gap with Baker.
Espada will be the fifth manager hired this winter, joining Craig Counsell (Chicago Cubs), Bob Melvin (San Francisco), Ron Washington (Los Angeles Angels), Carlos Mendoza (New York Mets) and Stephen Vogt (Cleveland). Two managerial openings remain: San Diego, which let Melvin go to the Giants, and Milwaukee, where Counsell left as a free agent for rival Chicago.
