Houston Astros manager Joe Espada is suddenly the lamest of lame ducks after the organization abruptly fired general manager Dana Brown on Monday.
The Astros fired Brown after a losing homestand, but have not done the same with Espada. Espada’s status with the Astros is unchanged, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, and he has not had any conversations about his future with the organization.
Espada could be forgiven for having some doubts. Like Brown, he is in the final year of his contract, so he has no long-term job security. With Brown dismissed, the Astros will ultimately hire a new general manager, and that person may want to make their own choice of manager.
Even before Monday, Espada was believed to be on the hot seat. The Astros are 65-66, but are still tied for first place in the weak AL West. They are fresh off a homestand that saw them lose six of nine games, including a pair of series losses to the lowly Angels and Athletics.
Espada became manager after the 2023 season following Dusty Baker’s retirement. Prior to that, he had served as Houston’s bench coach since the 2018 campaign.
