Following the resignation of Dusty Baker, the Houston Astros have zeroed in on ex-Yankees infield and third-base coach Joe Espada. The Yankees’ rivals are reportedly planning to unveil him as their new manager at a press conference on Monday.
Joe Espada was a leading candidate for the job given his familiarity with the organization and many of the players. The team is excited to appoint him manager as they look to continue their recent run of success. Dusty Baker has already highlighted how adverse fan opinion forced him to retire after this past season.
Who is Joe Espada
While an official announcement will come Monday, Joe Espada has already been informed that he emerged as the top choice during the search process. He will aim to put his own stamp on the club while building on the foundation laid by Baker over the past two seasons.
The 48-year-old Joe Espada has served as the Astros’ bench coach since 2018 but has yet to hold a manager position until now. He brings experience from coaching in the Miami Marlins’ minor league system and working as their third base coach in 2010 before joining the Yankees staff.
After his stint as third base coach for the Marlins, Joe Espada took on a new role as a special assistant to Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees, in 2014. He held that position through the end of the 2014 season. In 2015, Joe Espada joined the Yankees coaching staff, serving as their infield and third base coach for three seasons before departing after the 2017 season.
Before getting into coaching, Joe Espada had a nine-year minor league playing career after being drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 1996 MLB draft. Born in Puerto Rico, the coach reached the Triple-A level as a player but was unable to break into the majors, retiring at age 29.
Despite not making it as a player, Joe Espada was determined to stay involved in baseball. This led him to turn his focus to coaching after hanging up his cleats, working his way up through various organizational coaching positions before landing MLB coaching roles.
Now with the opportunity to lead a talented Astros team as manager, his long path in baseball has prepared him well for this next challenge.
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