Not only did the Houston Astros shockingly fire GM Dana Brown on Monday, but they also informed manager Joe Espada that he won't receive a new contract after the year, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Espada will finish out the year as the Astros' manager, but won't be back in that role in 2027.
Inside the Astros' decision to move on from GM Dana Brown now, and why manager Joe Espada stayed for now, but will be next after season https://t.co/XJQ82gtE7s
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 24, 2026
This makes a lot of sense. While Espada isn't the only individual to blame, the Astros have only underperformed under his tutelage, going from a team that had made seven straight ALCS appearances before promoting Espada to still searching for their first playoff win with him. Given how this season has gone for Houston, the odds of them suddenly getting hot in October are slim, if not none. Now that we know he'll be gone after the year, here's a look at some possible replacements the Astros should consider.
Alex Cora
The most popular replacement candidate is undoubtedly Alex Cora, who not only led the Boston Red Sox to a World Series title as a manager, but he was the Astros' bench coach in their 2017 World Series run. He makes the most sense on paper given his success in the role and his familiarity with the organization, but there're also a couple of reasons why a reunion likely won't happen.
First and foremost, Cora was one of the key participants in the Astros' cheating scandal that helped them win the 2017 World Series. Would the Astros be willing to bring him back, knowing the distraction it'd cause? Even if the answer is yes, Cora has been linked heavily to the Philadelphia Phillies. If I were to pick between those two teams, I know who I'd pick, and it isn't the Astros.
Omar Lopez
If the Astros were to have fired Espada midseason, there's a good chance that Omar Lopez would've been his replacement. Lopez, Houston's bench coach, has been with the organization in a variety of roles since 1999, including managing several minor league teams. As if that isn't enough, Lopez managed Team Venezuela in the past two World Baseball Classics.
Not only did that Venezuela team make it to the Quarterfinals in 2023, but they won the whole thing this year. He doesn't have MLB managing experience, but that's pretty darn close. Lopez has tons of experience and offers familiarity, making him an intriguing fit.
Morgan Ensberg
Speaking of familiarity, what about Morgan Ensberg as Espada's replacement? This is more of an under-the-radar suggestion, but Ensberg played parts of seven seasons with the Astros, even making an All-Star team in 2005, playing an integral role in Houston getting to that year's World Series. He also managed in the minors for the Astros for a couple of years before being hired to manage in the Tampa Bay Rays' system.
With the Rays, Ensberg is in his third year with the Durham Bulls (Triple-A), and he's done a good job with them. In addition to his work with the Astros and Rays, Ensberg has even managed in winter ball in Venezuela. Now, he has not managed at the big-league level before, which could dissuade the Astros, but the managing he has done should be enough to give them enough confidence that he'd thrive at the highest level.
David Ross
If experience managing at the highest level is something that the Astros covet, what about David Ross? The World Series-winning catcher led the Chicago Cubs to improved records in three straight seasons before being fired in favor of Craig Counsell ahead of the 2024 campaign. That firing seemingly had more to do with hiring Counsell, one of the best managers in the sport, than it had to do with letting Ross go.
And since he did a pretty good job with the Cubs, the Astros would be wise to take a shot here. He doesn't have the connections with the organization that the others on this list do, but it'd be tough to find a realistic option not named Alex Cora who is as accomplished in this role as Ross.
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