One of the biggest reasons the Astros have had so much success over the years is Joe Espada’s presence on the coaching staff. He has been in the organization since 2018, when the team hired him as bench coach. As bench coach, he helped the Astros navigate the 2017 sign-stealing scandal and win the 2022 World Series. Then, in 2023, he became the club’s manager after Dusty Baker retired. He was one of the most talked-about names in manager circles for years and seemed like the perfect fit.
But despite his relatively successful three seasons as Astros manager, the team decided on Wednesday not to renew his contract. This ends Espada’s tenure as manager and sends Houston on a search for its next skipper. This move isn’t a surprise, as the Astros fired GM Dana Brown early this season. It may not seem like it now, but this is the best move the Astros could have made.
Why This Was The Right Move for the Astros
This wasn’t an easy decision for the Astros. Over his three seasons as manager, the Astros have gone 256-229. They have also made the postseason in two of his three seasons at the helm, winning the AL West twice. He is also a big reason the Astros rallied back and won the AL West this season. This team looked like it was going nowhere, 5.5 games back in the middle of June. Sure, the historically bad AL West helped, but it was still an impressive accomplishment.
While Espada succeeded in the regular season, the same didn’t hold up in the postseason. In the two playoff series Espada managed, he didn’t win a single game. A team coming off one of the most impressive streaks of the 21st century got swept in the two series Espada managed. Sure, the core had changed, but the roster still had plenty of talent. Enough to at least be competitive in the series. You can argue that Espada can’t handle the bright lights of October.
This also solidifies the fact that the Astros are moving in a new direction. They have recognized they are no longer good enough to compete with the rest of the American League, and the team’s current construction isn’t good enough to win. That’s why they decided to shake up the front office and the manager’s job. They want to bring in new voices and people with fresh ideas. The hope is that this will move the team in a new direction and start the rebuilding process.
The next steps will be selling off pieces this offseason. They need to replenish the farm system, which is one of the worst in baseball. Guys like Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, and Josh Hader should all be on the trade block and moved for prospects. If they really want to shake things up, they could look to move guys like Yordan Alvarez. He’s coming off an MVP-caliber season and has two years remaining on his contract. That move could bring in a great offer and give their rebuild the jump-start it needs.
Although it is not ideal, moving on from Joe Espada was the best thing the Astros could have done for the team’s future. It is the last piece of the old management team and will help usher in a new era.
