Joe Espada’s name may have started out sounding like an odd fit for the Mariners’ managerial opening. Now, it looks very real.
Seattle has narrowed its search to two final candidates: Espada, the former Houston Astros manager, and Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler. Both are scheduled for final interviews this week, which suggests the club is close to choosing Dan Wilson’s replacement.
Because president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said the Mariners would prefer a manager with previous experience, Espada brings the stronger résumé on paper. Still, the obvious question hangs over the search: why would Seattle turn to a manager the Astros just moved on from?
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi addressed that point Tuesday during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, saying Houston’s decision had more to do with the state of the organization than with Espada himself.
“I think for the Astros, it was as much just needing a big reset and then of course also changing at the at the top for them,” Morosi said referencing Houston’s midseason firing of general manager Dana Brown. “The Astros are going through the GM search, too.
Famously, the owner (Jim Crane) can be challenging to work for, as we have seen in some of the other things where James Click brought his team to the World Series and was then let go. So, I think that it has probably more to do with where the Astros are as an organization then it does with Joe Espada’s ability and tactical ability to run a game.”
Espada’s run in Houston included two division titles over three seasons as manager, coming after six years as the Astros’ bench coach under AJ Hinch and Dusty Baker. That stretch also included three World Series appearances and one championship. His second division title, though, came in a year when the AL West was so weak that the Astros became the first .500 worse team to win a division during a full season in MLB history.
Morosi also pointed to Seattle’s pitching staff as a reason Espada could be in a better position to succeed with the Mariners than he was in Houston. The Astros’ pitching took a hit this past season after Framber Valdez left in free agency, injuries piled up, and offseason addition Tatsuya Imai struggled to adjust from the NPB to MLB.
“Trust me, (if) Joe Espada steps into the Seattle Mariners’ managerial job, he’s gonna look at that rotation and say: Oh my gosh, where were these guys last year? And the answer is on the other team,” Morosi said. “So, I think if he gets the job, I think Espada will be much more effective in Seattle.
“He’s a good communicator. I’ve always enjoyed being around Joe.
He gets a lot of high marks for how he communicates. He’s been around the game for a long time, coached for the Yankees.
A lot of good experience there with Joe Espada.”
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