Astros reportedly expected to hire bench coach Joe Espada as manager

By Rebbecca Hurley / November 12, 2023 / Sports / 1 minute of reading

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Bench coach Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros walks the lineup to the umpire as manager Dusty Baker Jr. #12 serves a one game suspension against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on June 07, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) — HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 07: Bench coach Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros walks the lineup to the umpire as manager Dusty Baker Jr. #12 serves a one game suspension against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on June 07, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) (Carmen Mandato via Getty Images)

The Houston Astros are planning to hire bench coach Joe Espada as their manager, according to multiple reports.

Espada will take over for Dusty Baker, who retired in October after the Astros were eliminated by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. Baker managed 26 MLB seasons and led the Astros to a World Series championship in 2022.

Espada, 48, played nine seasons of minor league baseball from 1996-2006. After retiring as a player, he worked as a coach for the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees before joining the Astros in 2018.

Espada has long been expected to be a candidate for the position upon Baker’s retirement. He was reportedly a finalist for the Marlins job last season before they hired Skip Schumaker.

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Rebbecca Hurley

Rebecca Hurley is a news writer at Rebel Planet Dispatch, where she covers everything from arts and construction to automotive, travel, real estate, and fashion. She has been writing professionally since 2004 and has worked in a variety of different fields. Her hobbies include cooking, painting, drawing, and playing the saxophone.