The Astros have opened two of the most consequential jobs of the coming offseason, moving on from manager Joe Espada while still operating without a permanent general manager. Houston’s decision came after an 81-81 season that ended with a White Sox sweep in the American League Wild Card Series, despite another postseason berth and a likely AL MVP season from Yordan Alvarez.
Espada, 51, finishes his Houston managerial run at 256-229. He took over after Dusty Baker retired following the 2023 season and led the club to the postseason twice in three years. The Astros have reached October 10 times in the last 12 seasons, but their 2026 roster showed cracks behind Alvarez, particularly on the mound and in overall depth.
His contract was set to run out at the end of October, and the club elected not to bring him back for 2027. Espada had expressed a desire to return for a fourth season, but Houston is instead headed into a broader reset. Dana Brown was dismissed as general manager during the 2026 season, leaving owner Jim Crane overseeing baseball operations alongside assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff, plus senior advisor Jeff Bagwell.
Seattle moves quickly toward Espada
The Mariners have received permission to speak with Espada about their managerial opening. Seattle is looking for a replacement for Dan Wilson, who confirmed after the final game of the season that he would not return in 2027.
Wilson succeeded Scott Servais in August 2024. Seattle won 90 games in 2025 and finished one victory short of the franchise’s first pennant, but the follow-up season never gained traction. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez were among the stars who did not meet expectations, and the Mariners closed at 76-86.
President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has indicated that prior MLB managerial experience is a preference in this search. Wilson had not managed in the majors before taking the Seattle job, while Espada arrives with three seasons in the chair and nine total years in the Astros organization, including bench-coach work under Baker and A.J. Hinch.
Seattle also considered Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, but that avenue closed when Lovullo agreed to a new two-year contract with Arizona. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has been viewed as another intriguing fit because of his Seattle ties: he worked as the club’s bullpen coach in 2023 and had been slated to become bench coach in 2024 before Cleveland hired him. Vogt is believed to be under contract through 2027, though manager trades have occurred before and the Mariners have shown interest in exploring that possibility.
Philadelphia stays with Mattingly
The Phillies chose continuity, signing Don Mattingly to a two-year contract after he finished the season as interim manager. Mattingly took over on April 28 and guided Philadelphia to a 79-55 record, the fourth-best mark in the majors over that stretch.
His familiarity with the clubhouse and his standing with the players helped make the case for removing the interim label. Philadelphia had also pursued Alex Cora, who previously worked with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski in Boston. Cora told Dombrowski he was not interested in managing in 2027, clearing the way for Mattingly’s return.
Athletics continue GM search before Las Vegas move
The Athletics remain in the market for a permanent general manager after David Forst and the club agreed to separate on Aug. 7. Forst had spent nearly three decades with the franchise, beginning as a scout in 2000 before rising to assistant general manager in 2004 and then taking over the top job after the 2015 season. Assistant GM Dan Feinstein is serving as interim general manager.
The next hire will oversee a franchise preparing for its move to Las Vegas in 2028. The A’s offered the position to Phillies president of business operations Sam Fuld, but he declined. Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith remains among the leading candidates.
Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio had been a finalist but is expected to stay in St. Louis. Other names under consideration include former Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, former Astros GM James Click, Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Groopman and Athletics director of player personnel and assistant GM Billy Owens. The club was expected to make its selection by the end of the week.
Angels wait on ownership and front-office direction
The Angels’ uncertainty reaches from the front office to the manager’s office. Perry Minasian was dismissed on June 26 after four full seasons without a finish above 77 wins. Los Angeles went on to post a 62-100 record, the first 100-loss season in franchise history and its 11th straight losing campaign.
John Mozeliak stepped in as interim general manager after Minasian’s departure. Mozeliak previously ran the Cardinals from 2007 through 2025, a period that included 10 playoff appearances and the 2011 World Series championship.
His Angels arrangement runs through December, when his contract expires. Kroenke Sports Entertainment agreed on Sept. 1 to purchase the club from Arte Moreno, but the sale is not expected to close until the first quarter of 2027. Until then, Mozeliak is answering to both the current and incoming ownership groups.
The manager’s job could also become part of the transition. Kurt Suzuki was hired on a one-year contract last October, although Mozeliak said he would like Suzuki back in the dugout for 2027.
Other jobs settled around the league
Arizona retained Lovullo on a two-year agreement, taking an experienced manager off Seattle’s board. The Mets also elected to keep Andy Green, giving him a three-year contract. Boston signed manager Tracy to a three-year deal and exercised options on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow for 2029 and 2030.
For Houston, the immediate challenge is larger than replacing Espada. The next general manager will inherit the responsibility of helping shape the organization’s baseball operations structure and hiring the next manager, with an offseason reset already underway.
