Astros have interviewed bench coach in team's managerial search

Astros bench coach Joe Espada has received an interview in the club’s managerial search, GM Dana Brown confirmed Tuesday afternoon (link via Chandler Rome of the Athletic). 

That’s no surprise considering he has been viewed by many as the logical choice to replace Dusty Baker atop the Houston dugout.

Espada has never managed in the big leagues but has gotten serious attention from a number of teams. He was reportedly one of the finalists in the Marlins search last offseason and has interviewed for several jobs over the years. 

Tuesday morning, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal listed Espada among the potential targets for the Brewers as they set out in search of Craig Counsell’s replacement.

Curiously, Brown told reporters today that the Astros would not grant permission for Espada to interview with Milwaukee until Houston had made its own decision. 

However, Rome reports that Espada’s contract with the Astros expired on Oct. 31 — thereby negating Houston’s ability to block him from speaking with other teams.

That the Astros have considered trying to prevent Espada from interviewing elsewhere at least seems to suggest he’s a legitimate candidate for the Houston job. Brown pushed back against characterizing the 48-year-old (or anyone else) as the favorite but confirmed Espada was the only in-house person under consideration. 

That rules out first base coach Omar López, who had been floated as a potential option in the immediate aftermath of Baker’s retirement. Brown added that another team’s bench coach without MLB managerial experience (whom he did not name) is among the other candidates.

Espada has spent the past six seasons as Houston bench coach, holding the position under both A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker. Before that, he’d logged three seasons on the Yankees staff. 

Espada has managed for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic but has no experience doing so in the affiliated ranks.