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HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Joe Espada #21 of the Houston Astros looks on prior to game two of the American League Wild Card Series against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Houston Astros<\/a>, after squeaking into the MLB playoffs with an 81-81 record, have been eliminated in just a couple of games after the Chicago White Sox<\/a> came into Daikin Park as the third AL Wild Card and handled business.<\/p>\n It might be time for a managerial change, as the noise is going to get very loud surrounding manager Joe Espada.<\/p>\n Well, quickly after their quick playoff exit, many baseball pundits are already calling for Joe Espada to get the boot from the Astros organization.<\/p>\n More MLB on Heavy: Ronald Acu\u00f1a<\/a> Jr. and Brother, Luisangel, Make MLB Playoff History<\/p>\n Manager Joe Espada Might Be First Manager Fired This Offseason In a recent piece for FanSided.com, writer Jake Elman<\/a> is predicting the Astros to cut ties with manager Joe Espada:<\/p>\n \u201cEspada entered these playoffs knowing that he needed a deep run to have any chance to make himself indispensable moving forward, and safe to say that didn\u2019t happen. Is that entirely his fault? Of course not; this is an aging, misshapen roster with holes all over the place, ones that no manager could have overcome. But Espada has hardly covered himself in glory during his time with the Astros, either, and ultimately it\u2019s hard not to feel like a house-clearing is needed. (Whether Crane is the right guy to lead it is another question entirely.)\u201d<\/p>\n The Astros fired team GM Dana Brown halfway through the 2026 season, and Elman notes that whoever the new top executive is, they will likely want a new skipper in the home dugout for their tenure.<\/p>\n Of course, Espada isn\u2019t the one playing on the baseball diamond, but ever since Dusty Baker retired, manager Joe Espada has not lived up to the expectations placed on him. Houston still has a very solid roster, and while the pitching staff didn\u2019t do Espada any favors, especially this season, the Astros\u2019 woes (and any team woes, for that matter) are going to fall on the manager.<\/p>\n So, with all that being said, yeah, there\u2019s a good chance that Espada will be the first manager fired once the new league-year cycle begins.<\/p>\n More MLB on Heavy: Toronto Blue Jays Linked to $75 Million Starting Pitcher in Free Agency Rumor<\/a><\/p>\n Who Could Astros Hire to Replace Joe Espada?<\/p>\n The two names that immediately come to mind as replacements for Joe Espada are Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora.<\/p>\n Both the Mets and Red Sox<\/a> have decided to retain their interim managers, which means Cora and Beltran still stand out as the top options to become an MLB manager in 2027.<\/p>\n Another name to keep an eye on is Rob Thomson, who was relieved of his duties earlier this season after a disastrous start with the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>.<\/p>\n Either way, obviously Espada would have to be relieved of his managerial position first, but speculation season is now on for the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTJ French<\/a> covers the MLB for Heavy. TJ is a graduate of the University of Georgia. He has 2+ years of writing experience.
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GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS \u2013 SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Joe Espada #21 of the Houston Astros walks back to the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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