> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Astros Rumor Roundup: Espada Expects a Mariners Decision Sunday or Monday
- URL: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-rumor-roundup-espada-mariners-decision/
- Published: 2026-11-01T18:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T18:00:02.000Z
- Description: El Nuevo Dia reports Joe Espada was in Seattle Tuesday through Thursday and expects to learn Sunday or Monday whether he is Seattle's next manager. Plus updates on the Reifert trade, Dana Brown and Monday's Flores intro.
- Author: Crawford Box Report
- Tags: News, Rumors

El Nuevo Dia reports that former Astros manager Joe Espada spent three days in Seattle this week and expects a decision on the Mariners' managerial vacancy as soon as Sunday or Monday. Neither Seattle nor Houston has made a related announcement overnight. All times are Central.

## Seattle: Espada waits on a Mariners decision

El Nuevo Dia [reported Saturday afternoon](https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/notas/josue-espada-se-reune-con-la-gerencia-de-los-mariners-y-espera-una-decision-sobre-su-futuro/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that Espada was in Seattle from Tuesday through Thursday meeting the Mariners' ownership group, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander, among other club officials. Per the paper, he is now waiting on a Mariners decision that could come between Sunday and Monday.

That lines up with where the search stood in [yesterday's roundup](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-rumor-roundup-mariners-gillman-cardinals-flores/). Seattle [hired CJ Gillman as hitting coach](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-rumor-roundup-mariners-gillman-cardinals-flores/) Friday, before naming a manager, while Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler remained the finalists. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com had [written earlier in the week](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-jason-kanzler-finalists-to-become-mariners-manager?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that a decision could slide into the weekend, with an introductory press conference tentatively planned for early this week.

As of Sunday morning, Seattle still had not announced a hire. A [Seattle Times column by Mike Vorel](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/dont-dismiss-mariners-manager-candidates-joe-espada-jason-kanzler/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) published at 6 a.m. still framed the next manager as "reportedly Joe Espada or Jason Kanzler." Checks of recent posts from Kramer, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, Ken Rosenthal and MLB Trade Rumors' Mariners tag turned up no hire announcement. If Seattle names someone later today or Monday, that story replaces this one.

We're tracking every name that comes up for Houston's own vacancy in our [Astros manager search tracker](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-manager-search-tracker/).

## Reifert trade: still reported, not yet announced

Overnight we covered the [reported trade of right-hander Evan Reifert from the Rays to the Astros for cash](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-acquire-reliever-evan-reifert-from-rays-in-first-trade-of-randy-flores-era/), first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided and followed by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. As of Sunday morning, neither the Astros nor the Rays had posted an official announcement. We'll update when either club does.

## Dana Brown returns to Atlanta

Former Astros general manager Dana Brown is [returning to the Braves as a senior adviser with amateur scouting](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/former-astros-gm-dana-brown-returns-to-the-braves-as-a-scouting-adviser/), USA Today's Bob Nightengale first reported Saturday. The Athletic's Jesus Cano confirmed it. The Braves have not made a formal announcement yet.

## Flores intro Monday

Randy Flores, hired Friday as Houston's general manager, is scheduled for an introductory press conference Monday at 10 a.m. CT at Daikin Park, [per the Astros' announcement](https://www.mlb.com/news/randy-flores-astros-general-manager?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). That is the first public look at how Flores and owner Jim Crane plan to run the manager search and the rest of the offseason.

## Our take

Espada's Seattle timeline is the cleanest update since Gillman's hire: three days of meetings with ownership and the front office, and a decision window that starts today. That still does not mean he gets the job. Kanzler remains in the mix, and Seattle can wait until Monday. For Houston, the next 24 hours matter more at Daikin Park than at T-Mobile Park. Flores meets the media Monday morning with a manager to hire and a 40-man roster to set. The Reifert cash deal, if confirmed, is a small first move. Naming a skipper is the one that sets the tone.

## Around the MLB

**Reds decline Suarez and Johnson options.** Cincinnati declined mutual options on third baseman Eugenio Suarez and right-hander Pierce Johnson, the team announced, [per Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/reds-decline-mutual-options-for-eugenio-suarez-pierce-johnson.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Suarez's option was $16 million with no buyout. Johnson's was $8 million with a $1 million buyout. Suarez hit .212/.307/.433 with 26 home runs in 498 plate appearances and struck out 33.9% of the time.

**Rays keep Rasmussen.** Tampa Bay exercised Drew Rasmussen's $20 million club option for 2027, [per Byrne at MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/rays-exercise-club-option-on-drew-rasmussen.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) and [Bob Nightengale](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2116660046037995885?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

**White Sox to hire Matt Roffe.** The White Sox are set to hire Matt Roffe as scouting director, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, [per Byrne at MLBTR](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/white-sox-to-hire-matt-roffe-as-scouting-director.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Roffe, 30, was Milwaukee's assistant director of domestic scouting. He replaces Mike Shirley, who resigned Sept. 12 after a verbal harassment investigation. Scott Merkin of MLB.com said an announcement is expected next week.

Sources: [El Nuevo Dia](https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/notas/josue-espada-se-reune-con-la-gerencia-de-los-mariners-y-espera-una-decision-sobre-su-futuro/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [MLB.com (Daniel Kramer), Espada/Kanzler finalists](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-jason-kanzler-finalists-to-become-mariners-manager?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [Seattle Times (Mike Vorel)](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/dont-dismiss-mariners-manager-candidates-joe-espada-jason-kanzler/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [yesterday's Gillman roundup](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-rumor-roundup-mariners-gillman-cardinals-flores/); [Astros manager search tracker](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-manager-search-tracker/); [Reifert trade story](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-acquire-reliever-evan-reifert-from-rays-in-first-trade-of-randy-flores-era/); [Dana Brown story](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/former-astros-gm-dana-brown-returns-to-the-braves-as-a-scouting-adviser/); [MLB.com, Flores hire](https://www.mlb.com/news/randy-flores-astros-general-manager?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [MLBTR (Connor Byrne), Suarez/Johnson](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/reds-decline-mutual-options-for-eugenio-suarez-pierce-johnson.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [MLBTR (Connor Byrne), Rasmussen](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/rays-exercise-club-option-on-drew-rasmussen.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [Bob Nightengale on X, Rasmussen](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2116660046037995885?ref=crawfordboxreport.com); [MLBTR (Connor Byrne), Roffe](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/white-sox-to-hire-matt-roffe-as-scouting-director.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

*Subscribe free at crawfordboxreport.com.*