HOUSTON, TX – October 8, 2025 – The Houston Astros confirmed Tuesday that general manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada will both return to their respective roles for the 2026 season, putting to rest any speculation about their futures following the team’s first playoff absence since 2016.
Both Brown and Espada were already under contract for 2026, and a source told MLB.com on Tuesday that the organization is committed to moving forward with its current leadership structure. The confirmation provides stability heading into a critical offseason for the franchise.
Leadership Continuity
Brown recently completed his third season at the helm of the Astros’ baseball operations after taking over as general manager in January 2023—two months after Houston won the 2022 World Series. Espada finished his second season as manager after being promoted from bench coach in November 2023, a role he held for six years under Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker.
At the team’s end-of-season press conference last Tuesday, Brown said he expected to be the Astros’ GM moving forward, while noting that Espada was under contract. Still, some speculation persisted about the futures of both men following Houston’s disappointing finish to the 2025 season.
Espada holds a 175-148 record over his two seasons as manager, including an AL West division title in 2024. However, the Astros were swept in the AL Wild Card Series by the Tigers in his first year, and this season saw Houston finish 87-75 and miss the playoffs entirely despite holding a seven-game lead in the AL West on July 6.
A Season Derailed by Injuries
The Astros’ collapse in the final two months of the 2025 season was heavily influenced by an unprecedented wave of injuries. Houston had 28 different players on the injured list this season, including 2025 All-Stars Jeremy Peña, Josh Hader and Isaac Paredes, who all missed substantial time. Three-time All-Star Yordan Alvarez appeared in only 48 games.
According to FanGraphs estimates, the Astros lost more potential value to injuries than any other team in baseball. Brown acknowledged last week that injuries are an “industry-wide issue” but said he will take a comprehensive look at every aspect of baseball operations this winter.
“There’s guys throwing harder, there’s guys chasing spin,” Brown said. “I don’t think there’s a magic bullet as to why there were so many injuries. I know we were affected big-time from it, and I think it cost us the postseason from all the injuries. I figure we’d get two or three more wins if we had all of our guys.”
The season’s final indignity came when Houston tied with Detroit at 87-75 for the final Wild Card spot, but the Tigers advanced because they won the season series over the Astros, 4-2.
An Important Offseason Ahead
With Brown and Espada’s futures now settled, the focus shifts to what promises to be a fascinating and critical offseason for the organization. The Astros face several key decisions, including the impending free agency of starting pitcher Framber Valdez, one of the team’s most consistent performers.
Brown said the club would like to bring back backup catcher Victor Caratini, who will also be a free agent, but Houston will need to add starting pitching depth and address an abundance of position players. Brown indicated the Astros will be active in the trade market for pitching.
“It’s going to be a fun offseason for us trying to figure all this out and trying to put the best team on the field,” Espada said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Espada also revealed plans to have dinner with third baseman Carlos Correa in the coming days to discuss Spring Training and how the team should move forward personnel-wise this offseason. Correa was traded back to the Astros from the Twins in July and immediately stepped back into his role as a team leader.
“I personally like to empower some of our leaders to have a say in how we’re going to address the aspects of our game that we need to address, so Carlos will be in the middle of those conversations,” Espada said.
Looking Forward
The decision to retain both Brown and Espada signals ownership’s belief that the 2025 season’s shortcomings were largely circumstantial rather than systemic. However, both men understand that missing the playoffs is no longer acceptable for a franchise that reached the postseason in eight consecutive years from 2017-2024.
With contracts running through at least 2026, Brown and Espada will have the opportunity to prove they can navigate the challenges ahead and return Houston to championship contention. The specific terms of their contracts have not been made public, though team owner Jim Crane could potentially explore extensions to provide additional stability.
The retention of the current leadership also provides continuity as the Astros attempt to retool on the fly. Rather than starting over with a new regime, Houston can build on the foundation established over the past two-plus seasons while addressing the roster needs that became glaringly apparent in 2025.
As the organization turns its attention to the offseason, Brown and Espada will face pressure to make the right moves to return the Astros to the playoffs. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining whether 2025 was merely an aberration or the beginning of a troubling trend for one of baseball’s most successful franchises of the past decade.
