Astros Rumor Roundup: Mariners Down to Espada or Kanzler, Morosi Makes the Case for Espada

Most of the Astros news from other teams' markets since Wednesday's roundup came out of Seattle. The Mariners are now choosing between two former Astros, Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler, and MLB Network's Jon Morosi explained on Seattle radio why he thinks Espada would do better there than he did in Houston. In Washington, a Nationals writer had a blunt take on the Astros interviewing Mike Rizzo. All times are Central.

Seattle: Mariners pick between Espada and Kanzler

Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reported Wednesday night that the Mariners have "entered the decision-making phase" between Espada and Kanzler. Both had in-person interviews at T-Mobile Park, Kanzler on Tuesday and Espada on Wednesday, and a source told Kramer that was "indeed a 'finalist' round." Kramer shared the story on X at 10:03 p.m.

Per Kramer, a decision could come as soon as Thursday, but it could also slide to Friday or into the weekend. The tentative plan is to introduce the new manager at a press conference early next week. The Mariners didn't bring in any "mystery" candidates this week and have no other interviews scheduled. Kramer wrote that there's a "slim possibility" Seattle waits to talk with Brewers or Rays staff, or goes back to earlier candidates, but one source called that "an extreme outlier," since it would essentially reopen the whole search. Seattle's internal deadline is to have Dan Wilson's successor in place before the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.

Kanzler is the Cubs' director of player development. He's also a former Astros hitting coach: Teren Kowatsch of Yahoo Sports, in a follow-up, noted that Houston hired him as a minor league hitting instructor before the 2019 season and promoted him to major league hitting coach before the 2022 title season. Kowatsch also wrote that because the two worked together on the same staff, there has been speculation Seattle could hire both, with one as manager and the other as bench coach. That's speculation, not reporting.

Seattle: Morosi says Espada's exit was about Houston

Jon Morosi of MLB Network went on Seattle Sports' Wyman and Bob on Tuesday, and Zac Hereth wrote up the interview on Wednesday. Seattle Sports shared it on X at 12:23 p.m. Asked why the Mariners would want a manager their division rival just let go, Morosi pointed to where the Astros are as a franchise.

Morosi said the Astros were "needing a big reset," with changes at the top, as Hereth noted Houston fired general manager Dana Brown midseason. "The Astros are going through the GM search, too," Morosi said. "Famously, the owner (Jim Crane) can be challenging to work for, as we have seen in some of the other things where James Click brought his team to the World Series and was then let go." He said Espada's exit probably had more to do with where the Astros are as an organization than with Espada's "ability and tactical ability to run a game."

Morosi also thinks Seattle's pitching would help. "Trust me, (if) Joe Espada steps into the Seattle Mariners' managerial job, he's gonna look at that rotation and say: Oh my gosh, where were these guys last year? And the answer is on the other team," he said. "So, I think if he gets the job, I think Espada will be much more effective in Seattle." He called Espada "a good communicator" who "gets a lot of high marks for how he communicates."

The finalists also came up on Seattle-focused shows. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times was a guest on Jason Puckett's YouTube show, in an episode titled "THESE Are The BEST Candidates For The Mariners!!?", and Callaghan Bluechel's "True to the Blue" for Emerald City Spectrum posted an episode Wednesday at 12:01 p.m. weighing "Jason Kanzler or Joe Espada?" We haven't reviewed what was said in either video.

Washington: "Houston, he's your problem now"

JJ Phillips of District on Deck, FanSided's Nationals site, wrote an opinion piece Wednesday on the Astros interviewing Rizzo, and shared it on X at 5:11 p.m. asking, "Are we really doing this?" Phillips wrote as a Nationals fan who was born in Houston and is "also an Astros fan."

It's a harsh read. Phillips wrote, "At no point was I ever a fan of Mike Rizzo," and argued that from the 2019 title until his exit in 2025, Rizzo "effectively held the Nationals in the technological Stone Age." Phillips credited the new front office under Paul Toboni with getting Washington "up to speed," and argued the Astros, once ahead of the game on technology, "have regressed massively this decade." The conclusion: "Hiring Mike Rizzo would be the death knell for a team that's had one foot in the grave for three years running now." The headline line, aimed at Astros fans: "Houston, he's your problem now."

The search may have moved past Rizzo. On Thursday at 10:03 a.m., Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that Brewers executive Matt Kleine is the focus of the Astros' search and "the Astros' choice," though no deal has been finalized or agreed upon. (Our story)

Boston: Bell's new role

Tim Healey's Boston Globe story on Jason Bell joining the Red Sox as outfield instructor is already in our Bell story.

What's next

Seattle could name its manager as soon as Thursday, and both finalists are former Astros. In Houston, the GM search seems to be closing in on Kleine, but nothing is final. We'll keep tracking both searches here every day.

Around the MLB

Michael King hits free agency. Padres right-hander Michael King declined his 2027 player option and is a free agent, Jon Heyman of the New York Post posted at 8:35 a.m., calling him one of the market's most coveted players. MLBTR's Darragh McDonald wrote that King turned down a $28 million option and takes a $5 million buyout after a healthy 2026, when he threw 185 innings over 32 starts with a 3.21 ERA. Free agents can sign with any club starting Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.

Cubs face a rotation rebuild. Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd are turning down their player options to become free agents, ESPN's Jesse Rogers posted at 8:57 a.m. Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman and David Peterson are free agents too. Rogers' guess is that "1-2 of above could return."

Helsley stays in Baltimore. Orioles right-hander Ryan Helsley will exercise his $14 million player option for 2027, Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported, per MLBTR's Steve Adams. Injuries held Helsley to 15 1/3 innings this season, and he finished it on the 60-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.

Brewers parade Friday. The World Series champion Brewers will hold their parade at 10 a.m. Friday in downtown Milwaukee, Bob Nightengale of USA Today posted. Pat Murphy is the first manager to lead the Brewers to a World Series title.

Sources: MLB.com (Daniel Kramer); Daniel Kramer, MLB.com, on X; Yahoo Sports (Teren Kowatsch); Seattle Sports (Zac Hereth); Seattle Sports on X; Jason Puckett with Ryan Divish, Seattle Times, on YouTube; Callaghan Bluechel, Emerald City Spectrum, on X; District on Deck (JJ Phillips); JJ Phillips on X; Chandler Rome, The Athletic, on X; Jon Heyman on X; MLBTR (Darragh McDonald); Jesse Rogers, ESPN, on X; MLBTR (Steve Adams); Bob Nightengale on X; MLB on X.