Houston chose not to renew Espada's expiring contract and also moved on from several of his coaching staff.
The Houston Astros have parted ways with manager Joe Espada after deciding not to renew his expiring contract. The team announced the decision Wednesday, and several members of Espada's coaching staff are also out. His contract was set to expire at the end of this month.
Owner Jim Crane thanked Espada in a statement, saying "We are thankful for Joe's hard work, his passion for the game, and for his commitment to the Houston Astros. He represented the Astros and the Houston community in the most positive way. We wish he and his family the best moving forward."
The move comes after a season in which the Astros overcame a plethora of injuries to win the AL West with an 81-81 record, becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to reach the postseason without a winning record. They were swept in the playoffs that followed.
Houston has gotten worse every year since winning the 2022 World Series, and the organization now faces questions about whether a rebuild is next. The Astros will begin the search for their next manager.