Joe Espada Will Not Return As Astros Manager

Key Points:

• The Houston Astros announced they will not renew manager Joe Espada’s contract, which expires at the end of the month, making him a free agent after managing the team from 2024-26.
• Several coaching staff changes were also announced: bench coach Omar Lopez will be reassigned within the organization, and catching coach Tim Cossins, gameplan coordinator Tommy Kawamura, third base coach Tony Perezchica, assistant hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, and assistant pitching coach Ethan Katz will be replaced next season.
• The Astros finished the 2026 season with an 81-81 record, the worst ever for a postseason qualifier, winning the AL West by default in MLB’s weakest division and were quickly eliminated by the White Sox in the Wild Card round.
• Espada, previously a long-time bench coach and respected figure in baseball, has been granted permission to interview for the Mariners’ managerial vacancy and is expected to find other coaching or advisory roles if not hired there.
• The dismissed coaches have diverse backgrounds, including Katz’s pitching experience with the White Sox, Iapoce’s hitting roles with multiple MLB teams, and Kawamura’s decade-long tenure with the Astros system, highlighting a significant staff overhaul.