November 1 – It appears that the Astros have found their replacement for bench coach Alex Cora, who will be heading to Boston to become the Red Sox manager.
Marly Rivera of ESPN reports that Joe Espada has accepted the job and will be the next bench coach for the Houston Astros.
Team source tells me Joe Espada has accepted a position as the Astros bench coach, occupying the post left… https://t.co/2bA99PlPYW
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) November 2, 2017
October 24 – Once the World Series comes to an end, The Astros will be in the market for a new bench coach with Alex Cora shipping up to Boston to become the 47th manager of the Red Sox. According to Sweeny Murti, one candidate Houston is eyeing is Yankees’ third base coach Joe Espada.
Astros are considering Yankees 3B coach Joe Espada for Alex Cora’s old job as bench coach. Several Yankees coaches with expiring contracts.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) October 25, 2017
Espada has been the third base coach for the Bombers since the 2015 season, and served as a special assistant to General Manager Brian Cashman the year prior. Before coming to the Bronx, he was with the Marlins organization where he spent time as third base coach for the big league club as well as hitting coach in their minor league system. He also coached for the 2013 Puerto Rican national team in the World Baseball Classic.
Like Cashman, Joe Girardi, and the entire Yankees’ coaching staff, Espada is without a contract beyond 2017.
