> ## 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. # Joe Espada Is a Finalist for the Mariners' Manager Job, Per Report - URL: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/joe-espada-mariners-manager-finalist/ - Published: 2026-10-26T23:07:15.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-27T19:04:22.000Z - Description: Former Astros manager Joe Espada is a finalist for the Mariners' manager job, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. With Rocco Baldelli out, Cubs exec Jason Kanzler is the only other publicly known candidate. - Author: Crawford Box Report - Tags: News Joe Espada, the manager the Astros let go less than two weeks ago, is a finalist for the Seattle Mariners' managerial job, Jon Heyman of the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/10/26/sports/joe-espada-a-finalist-for-open-job-as-astros-still-searching-for-new-manager/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) reported Monday. **Update, Oct. 27, 12:15 PM CT:** The Seattle Times' [Adam Jude and Ryan Divish](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-manager-search-down-to-finalists-joe-espada-jason-kanzler/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) report the Mariners are down to two finalists, Espada and Jason Kanzler, with in-person interviews scheduled today and Wednesday and a decision expected by the end of the week. Jude [also posted the report on X](https://x.com/A%5FJude/status/2115130330437112021?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). **Update, Oct. 26, 10 PM CT:** The Mariners are holding in-person interviews for their manager opening this week, and at least two candidates, Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler, will meet with club officials at T-Mobile Park, multiple sources told [MLB.com's Daniel Kramer](https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-interviewing-joe-espada-jason-kanzler-for-manager?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) on Monday. The meetings will include ownership, the front office and members of the coaching staff retained for 2027, among others. It will be the third round of interviews for both candidates, following virtual meetings earlier this month. Kramer wrote that it is unclear whether this is a "finalist" stage. Kramer also reported that the Mariners interviewed White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven, who is no longer in the running, according to one source. The club had also discussed former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, but two sources suggested he is no longer being considered. Kanzler spent five seasons in the Astros' organization, starting as a low-Minors hitting coach before becoming Minor League hitting coordinator and eventually joining the big league staff, and he and Espada were both on Dusty Baker's coaching staff for Houston's 2022 World Series title, per MLB.com. "The Astros remain without a GM or manager, while Joe Espada, the skipper they recently fired, has emerged as a finalist to manage the rival Mariners," Heyman wrote. The Post also [shared the story on X](https://x.com/nypost/status/2114851010346623240?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Neither the Mariners nor Espada has commented publicly. On Monday, MLB.com reported that it was unclear whether this week's in-person interviews represented a finalist stage; the Seattle Times has since reported that Espada and Kanzler are the two finalists. ## Who's left Heyman wrote that Rocco Baldelli and Espada had been the two most prominent known candidates, and that Baldelli's withdrawal "appears to leave Espada in good position." Baldelli pulled out Sunday night, citing "family considerations," Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, [per MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/rocco-baldelli-withdraws-name-from-mariners-managerial-search.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). The [Seattle Times](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/rocco-baldelli-withdraws-name-from-mariners-manager-opening/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) reported he had been thought to be one of the front-runners. That leaves Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as the only publicly known candidates still in contention, according to Heyman, [MyNorthwest's Brent Stecker](https://sports.mynorthwest.com/mlb/seattle-mariners/seattle-mariners-manager-candidate-rocco-baldelli-withdraws?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) and MLB.com. Heyman added that there may be others. Earlier, the Seattle Times reported that Seattle was also weighing several "mystery" candidates and planned to bring in a handful of finalists for in-person interviews. The Seattle Times has since named both Espada and Kanzler as the two finalists; Heyman's earlier report had not said whether Kanzler was one. Kanzler has Houston ties of his own. He joined Dusty Baker's big league staff in 2022 and became assistant hitting coach in 2023, [per the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-linked-to-cubs-jason-kanzler-as-manager-candidate/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He has never managed. ## The timeline Heyman reported that the Mariners are aiming to name a manager by just after the World Series. Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported last week that Seattle hoped to pick finalists this week and finish the process by the end of October, according to MyNorthwest. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said big league managing experience is "not a prerequisite, but it would be preferred," [per the Seattle Times](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-linked-to-cubs-jason-kanzler-as-manager-candidate/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Of the two candidates getting in-person interviews this week, only Espada has managed in the majors. ## Espada's run in Houston The Astros [announced Oct. 14](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that they had parted ways with Espada. They had already given him permission to interview with Seattle, sources told MLB.com. He joined Houston as bench coach before the 2018 season and was promoted to manager after Baker retired following the 2023 season. In three seasons as manager, Espada went 256-229 and won the AL West in 2024 and 2026, but his teams were 0-4 in the postseason, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-to-interview-for-mariners-manager-position?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). ## Around the MLB - **Phillies hiring Peter Fatse as hitting coach.** The Athletic first reported the move, and [MLB.com's Paul Casella](https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-hire-peter-fatse-as-new-hitting-coach?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) and [NBC Sports Philadelphia](https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-peter-fatse-hitting-coach/761769/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) confirmed it through sources. The team hasn't announced it. Fatse, 39, became Boston's hitting coach in 2022 and held the job until the Red Sox let him go along with manager Alex Cora in April. He then worked as a hitting consultant for the Rays this summer. He replaces Kevin Long, whose departure the Phillies announced Oct. 16\. Philadelphia fell from eighth in MLB in runs in 2025 to 19th this season (713), and its OPS dropped from .759 to .707. Subscribe free at crawfordboxreport.com.