3 candidates to replace Buck Showalter if New York Mets fire him as manager

Potential candidate to replace Buck Showalter with New York Mets: Joe Espada

If the Mets wanted to go outside the organization, they could go with a proven winner and look to the Houston Astros and bench coach Joe Espada.

Espada was reportedly one of the finalists for the Mets position when Showalter was chosen back in December of 2021. He headed back to Houston and helped the Astros capture a World Series title last season, then was brought back with a new contract for the 2023 season when Dusty Baker decided to return as the team’s manager in the hopes of earning back-to-back World Series wins.

There has been plenty of talk that Espada will be one of the top candidates to take over the Astros when Baker decides to retire, so luring him away from south Texas could be a tough task. However, there’s little doubt that if there is a team that has the talent on paper and potential that the Astros do, it’s the Mets.

Also, the 47-year-old Espada heading to Queens would be a reunion with starting pitcher Justin Verlander, adding a bit of a comfort to a new face coming into the clubhouse.

Espada checks all of the boxes on paper should the Mets decide to look outside their own walls for their next manager.