Seattle comes calling for a manager who still has a job
Joe Espada is talking to the Seattle Mariners about their managerial opening. MLB.com reported the meeting Tuesday, and the odd part is who allowed it: the Houston Astros, the team Espada still manages.
He is 51 and under contract through the end of the month. Houston gave Seattle permission to speak with him anyway. The Astros have not decided what his future with the club looks like.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Houston’s own question mark
Espada went 256-229 across three seasons in the Astros dugout. Houston won the AL West in 2024 and again in 2026, but this October ended fast: the White Sox swept the Astros in the wild-card series.
The man who gave him the job is gone. General manager Dana Brown promoted Espada after the 2023 season, when he had been a bench coach since before 2018 and stepped up after Dusty Baker retired. Houston parted ways with Brown in August, and owner Jim Crane said at the time that Espada’s status would be revisited after the season.
What Seattle is shopping for
The Mariners are replacing Dan Wilson, fired after a 76-86 season. A year earlier they finished one win short of the World Series, so the drop was steep. Jerry Dipoto, the president of baseball operations, said on Sept. 28: “We need something new,” and talked about changes in programming, messaging and even language.
Espada’s contract runs out in about two weeks. Whichever club moves first on him will set the pace.
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