Astros to name bench coach Joe Espada as Dusty Baker’s replacement, reports say

HOUSTON — The Astros reportedly have decided on their next manager in the wake of Dusty Baker’s retirement.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that the team is expected to promote bench coach Joe Espada to be the club’s manager on Monday. The Astros also announced they will have a media briefing on Monday at 11 a.m.

The incoming promotion is also being reported by MLB.com and ESPN.

Espada has been with the Astros since they announced his hiring as bench coach ahead of the 2018 season. Prior to that, he worked as the New York Yankees’ third-base coach for three seasons. He was also the third-base coach for the Miami Marlins from 2010 to 2013.

He filled the spot left by Alex Cora, who went on to manage the Boston Red Sox.

Reports of Espada’s promotion comes a couple of weeks after Baker announced his retirement at the end of October. Baker was one win shy of taking the Astros to their third straight World Series. He ended his career with 2,183 wins in 4,046 regular-season games.

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