The Houston Astros are moving on from manager Joe Espada, announcing Wednesday that they will not renew his contract for the 2027 season. The decision ends his three-year tenure after two American League West championships, two postseason appearances, and four consecutive playoff losses.
The announcement comes less than two months after Houston parted ways with general manager Dana Brown, leaving the organization searching for both a manager and a general manager as it prepares for a pivotal offseason.
Espada’s contract was set to expire at the end of October. Astros owner Jim Crane thanked him for his contributions to the organization, praising his dedication, passion for baseball, and representation of the Astros and the Houston community.
Two Division Titles, but No Postseason Victories
Espada compiled a 256-229 regular-season record after taking over for Dusty Baker following the 2023 season. His first year was marked by a difficult 12-24 start before Houston recovered to win the AL West in 2024.
However, the Astros were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Series, ending their streak of seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances.
Houston missed the postseason in 2025, then returned to October this year despite finishing with an 81-81 record. The Astros claimed another division title, but their postseason lasted just two games as the Chicago White Sox swept the Wild Card Series at Daikin Park.
The elimination left Espada without a victory in four postseason games as manager.
The disappointing finish also highlighted problems that extended well beyond the manager’s office. Houston used a franchise-record 19 starting pitchers in 2026, led the American League with 650 walks, and struggled to generate consistent offense from its outfield.
The roster had undergone significant changes in recent seasons. Alex Bregman and Framber Valdez departed through free agency, while Kyle Tucker and Mauricio Dubón were traded. Their production proved difficult to replace, leaving the Astros increasingly dependent on established veterans while attempting to remain competitive.
Espada frequently faced criticism for his bullpen management, particularly during the final weeks of the season. Those frustrations intensified during the Wild Card Series, when Houston’s pitching decisions came under scrutiny as the White Sox took control of both games.
But the team’s problems were hardly limited to decisions made in the dugout. Injuries, inconsistent pitching, and a lack of offensive depth contributed to Houston’s struggles throughout the season.
Espada had spent nine seasons with the organization, joining the Astros as bench coach in 2018. He served in that position for six years, including Houston’s 2022 World Series championship, before succeeding Baker.
Seattle Could Be Espada’s Next Stop
Espada’s departure comes amid reports that the Seattle Mariners are interested in hiring him as their next manager.
MLB.com reported Tuesday that Houston had granted Seattle permission to speak with Espada about its vacancy following the departure of Dan Wilson. A source indicated that Espada would meet with the Mariners, although neither club had confirmed the meeting.
A move to Seattle would put Espada in charge of one of Houston’s American League West rivals, adding another intriguing development to an offseason already filled with uncertainty.
Astros Make Additional Coaching Changes
The Astros are also making substantial changes to their coaching staff. Catching instructor Tim Cossins, game-planning coach Tommy Kawamura, third-base coach Tony Perezchica, assistant hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, and assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz will not return in 2027.
Pitching coach Josh Miller, first-base coach Dave Clark, field coordinator Jason Bell, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, and longtime bullpen catcher Javier Bracamonte will remain with the organization.
Bench coach Omar López, who led Venezuela to the 2026 World Baseball Classic championship, has been offered an opportunity to remain in a different role.
Those decisions mean Houston has already begun shaping its 2027 coaching staff before naming a new manager or general manager.
An Organization at a Crossroads
The Astros have won eight AL West titles over the past 10 seasons, but the dominance that once made deep October runs an annual expectation has faded.
Houston has not won a postseason game since 2023, and its last two playoff appearances ended in Wild Card Series sweeps. Despite winning the division this year, the Astros finished without a winning regular-season record for the first time since 2014.
Espada’s departure represents another significant break from the organization that won two World Series championships and four American League pennants between 2017 and 2022.
With Brown and Espada gone, owner Jim Crane faces the challenge of choosing new leadership while addressing a roster that showed serious weaknesses despite winning another division title.
The question now is whether changing the leadership will be enough to reverse the decline—or whether the Astros’ next manager will face many of the same problems that contributed to Espada’s departure.
