Espada back with Astros after family emergency, will manage opener in Bronx

NEW YORK -- Astros manager Joe Espada traveled with the club to the Big Apple after missing Sunday’s loss to the A’s in Houston while dealing with a family emergency and will be in the dugout for Tuesday’s series opener against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, a team official said Monday.

The Astros and general manager Dana Brown mutually agreed to part ways Monday, but the team remains committed to Espada through at least the end of the season when his three-year contract expires. A source told MLB.com that Espada’s status will be reviewed after the season is over.

The Astros, who have 31 games remaining, are trying to get back into the playoffs after missing the postseason by one game last year, ending an eight-year postseason run. They squandered a chance to pad their American League West division lead by going 3-6 on a homestand against the Mariners, Angels and A’s, who rallied from six runs down to beat Houston, 7-6, on Sunday at Daikin Park.

Despite losing 11 of 20 games in August, the Astros still entered Monday tied for first place with the Rangers in the American League West at 65-66, but Houston’s schedule will be tougher the rest of the way, including series with the division-leading White Sox, Rays and Braves, in addition to road series at the Yankees and Phillies.

Espada replaced Dusty Baker as manager in November 2023 and led the Astros back to the playoffs in ‘24 -- a Wild Card round loss to Detroit. He had spent the previous six years as a bench coach in Houston under A.J. Hinch and Baker, both of whom won World Series titles. He has a 240-214 record as Houston’s manager.

Espada, a native of Puerto Rico, played for 10 seasons in the Minor Leagues (1996-2005) after being selected in the second round of the MLB Draft in 1996 by the A’s out of the University of Mobile. He spent time in the Athletics, Marlins, Rockies, Royals, Cardinals, Rangers and Rays organizations as a player, reaching Triple-A.

After retiring as a player, he coached in the Marlins system from 2006-13, joining the Major League club as third-base coach in 2010. He spent four seasons (2014-17) with the Yankees as a scout and third-base coach (2015-17), then the Astros hired him days after they won the 2017 World Series to replace bench coach Alex Cora, who took the Boston managerial job.