Joe Espada

Current Position: Astros Bench Coach (2018 – present)

Age: 8/30/75 (44)

Managerial Experience: Gigantes de Carolina (Winter League) 2014 – 2017

When you have the run of success like the Houston Astros have had, your front office executives and coaches are going to be hot commodities. That seems to be all the more the case when Alex Cora would go from the Astros bench coach to winning the World Series with the Boston Red Sox last year.

As the Astros make a push to win the World Series this year, it appears as if Cora’s successor as bench coach, Espada, is going to be one of the hot names this offseason.

Aside from the Winter Leagues, Espada does not have any managerial experience. However, what he does have is experience in a number of roles in analytical forward organizations. Prior to joining the Astros, Espada spent four years in the Yankees organization with one year as Brian Cashman’s assistant general manager and three years as third base coach. When Joe Girardi was fired as the Yankees manager, there were rumors Espada could replace Girardi, but instead, he opted to join the Astros without interviewing for the Yankees job.

Part of Espada’s duties as the bench coach has been shifting the infield defense. For teams like the Mets, who have struggled on this front, his abilities there alone could be enticing. Of course, Espada’s duties extend beyond positioning the infielders.

On 670 The Score, current Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum said Espada has a real good idea on how the Astros function giving him an understanding on how to communicate with both the front office and players. Moreover, Blum notes the fiery Espada has been AJ Hinch‘s enforcer in the clubhouse, and he has the respect of all 25 players in that clubhouse. Overall, he is noted to have had almost every job in the game, and he is “highly appealing” as a candidate because he tries to go out “and try to win every possible game he can.”

An interesting note with the Mets wanting to keep some of their current coaching staff, Espada worked previously worked with Ricky Bones. Both were coaches on the 2017 Puerto Rican World Baseball Classic team which finished runners-up. In addition to working with Bones, current Mets Edwin Diaz and Seth Lugo were on the team. In addition to those two players, Espada worked with J.D. Davis when he was a member of the Astros organization.

With respect to Espada’s candidacy, Mike Puma of the New York Post notes Hinch and Brodie Van Wagenen are “extremely tight.” As such, when it comes to Espada, it could be argued no no team will be more well-versed in his abilities to be a manager.

What They Say

Joe Girardi – “I think Joe Espada has done a tremendous job, coaching third, coaching our infield.” (Bryan Hoch, MLB.com)

Jeff Luhnow – “Experience playing the game, experience in the trenches, coaching in an organization with a good manager. Bilingual, bicultural, really good understanding of traditional aspects of the game as well as the new aspects of the game. A good package overall.” (Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle).

Ken Singleton – “When I talked to him, I realized this guy was going places. I didn’t realize it was to Houston as bench coach, but that was a step up. And now he has a chance to be a manager.” (Steve Melewski, MASN).

Recommendation

Espada has the experience and pedigree you want from a first time manager. It also helps he has worked with well-run organizations like the Yankees and Astros and poorly run ones like the Marlins. With respect to the Yankees, he has lived through this market during a postseason run, and as such, he understands how the pressure is ratcheted up here.

If there is a hesitation with Espada, aside from his not having extensive managerial experience, is Blum’s characterization of him as fiery. While Mickey Callaway had his faults, this team did respond to what has been described as a more laid back approach. There may be concern about how a different approach would work with players who have responded to a more positive approach.

With the fiery personality, you do also wonder how that would translate with his dealings with the media. Of course, if he is the right man for the job, and he is getting this team to win, his fiery personality will not in any way be seen as a detriment. Rather, like we once saw with Bobby Valentine, it will be seen as an asset and a reason why this team is a World Series contender.