Joe Espada Steps Down as Astros Manager as Top-to-Bottom Team Overhaul Continues

Joe Espada's contract will not be renewed after a winless end to the season, and the Houston Astros will seek a new manager and general manager.

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The Houston Astros' overhaul continues.

The Astros became the first team to make the postseason despite not finishing over .500 (they went 81-81).

Much of the organization has changed from top to bottom since the last World Series championship in 2022, and one of the cherries on top came Wednesday when the team announced it would not renew manager Joe Espada's contract.

The team announced that it has released several members of the Espada coaching staff. His contract is set to expire at the end of this month.

"We are grateful for Joe's hard work, his passion for the game and his commitment to the Houston Astros," team owner Jim Crean said in a statement. "He represented the Astros and the Houston community in the most positive way. We wish him and his family the best of luck."

The Astros will now look for a new manager and general manager after former GM Dana Brown was fired in August.

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It was the first managerial job for Espada, who was in his third year after being promoted to the bench after Dusty Baker retired after the 2023 season. Espada has been with the organization since the 2018 season after previously working as the New York Yankees' infielder and third base coach for three seasons.

Espada went winless in his tenure with Houston the following season and was also defeated by the Detroit Tigers in the 2024 Wild Card Series. They missed the postseason in 2025.

Espada's departure was announced shortly after the Phillies announced that they would release temporary tag shortstop Don Mattingly to a two-year contract.

The Astros and Seattle Mariners are the only two teams in the league with open managerial positions, as interim managers Chad Tracy and Andy Green remain with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, respectively.

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