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The Seattle Mariners are scheduled to interview Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for their managerial vacancy. Houston granted permission for the meeting as Espada's contract expires at the end of the month.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The Seattle Mariners are scheduled to meet with Houston Astros manager Joe Espada regarding their managerial vacancy, according to a report from MLB.com. The clubs have not confirmed the news, but Houston granted permission to Seattle to speak with Espada.
Espada’s contract with the Astros expires at the end of the month. While Houston has not made an official decision regarding whether Espada will return for the 2027 season, the team allowed him to interview with an American League West rival. Espada has spent the past nine years with the Astros, serving as bench coach from 2018 to 2023 and as manager for the last three seasons.
During his tenure as manager, the Astros have a record of 256-229. The team won the AL West in both 2024 and 2026. In 2026, Houston reached the postseason with an 81-81 record, becoming the first team to win a division with a .500 record, according to Seattle Sports. The Astros were subsequently swept by the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card Series.
“I respect the process and how blessed I've been of being here for over nine years and experienced so many division titles, Championship Series, World Series, winning one,” Espada said after the Wild Card Series. “As a bench coach, as a manager, I have witnessed so many great moments, so obviously I would like to continue enjoying those moments.”
The Mariners relieved Dan Wilson of his duties at the end of the 2026 season following a 76-86 finish. Wilson had a 187-171 record over two-plus seasons, including an AL West title and an AL Championship Series appearance in 2025. Mariners President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto stated that prior managing experience at the Major League level is “not a prerequisite” but added that “it would be preferred.”
“We need fresh thought,” Dipoto said in an end-of-season news conference. “We need something new. It could be a shift in programming. It could be a shift in messaging. It could be a shift in language. We'll collaborate with whoever our future manager is, and try to find the right person.”
Dipoto noted that the team’s recent approach has been “insular” and that the 2026 failure requires looking outside the organization. “I think this year's failure requires that we look outside to find someone who might be able to poke holes in what we're doing and help us see something that perhaps we're blind to,” Dipoto said.
This is the third time Seattle has sought a new manager since Dipoto took over the front office after the 2015 season. His previous hires, Scott Servais and Dan Wilson, did not have previous managing experience at any level. Servais was fired in August 2024, and Wilson’s tenure was “concluded” after the 2026 season.
The Mariners currently have one of the few managerial vacancies in MLB, alongside the Philadelphia Phillies. The position offers a team with a homegrown rotation and stars Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh. The prospective manager would also have input on rounding out the coaching staff, as the Mariners parted ways with four key members of that group.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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