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# Three AL West Teams Need a Manager, and the GM-Less Astros Are Starting From Behind
- URL: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/three-al-west-teams-need-a-manager-and-the-gm-less-astros-are-starting-from-behind/
- Published: 2026-10-21T19:13:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T19:13:54.000Z
- Description: The Angels' move Wednesday put all three of MLB's managerial openings in the AL West. Houston is now bidding against Seattle and Los Angeles for many of the same candidates, and it's the only one of the three still looking for a general manager.
- Author: Crawford Box Report
- Tags: News, Analysis

The Astros' manager search just got a lot more crowded, and every team they're competing with plays in their division.

"There are 3 managerial openings now all in the AL West," USA Today's Bob Nightengale [posted on X](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112977396781781219?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) at 1:40 p.m. CT Wednesday, listing the Mariners, the Astros "and now the Los Angeles Angels." That means Houston is chasing a new skipper against two division rivals, often for the same names. And of the three, the Astros are the only club that doesn't have a general manager in place yet.

## The Angels make it three

The Angels announced Wednesday that they declined Kurt Suzuki's option and, "in coordination with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment," will search for a new manager and coaching staff for 2027, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/angels-decline-manager-kurt-suzuki-contract-option?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Suzuki went 62-100 in his first year managing at any level, a franchise record for losses, [per Sports Illustrated's J.P. Hoornstra](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

## Where each club stands

**Seattle has the head start.** The Mariners have been at this the longest. Dan Wilson told players and staff before the Sept. 27 season finale that he wouldn't be back after a 76-86 season, and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander are expected to return, [per MLB.com's Daniel Kramer](https://www.mlb.com/news/dan-wilson-won-t-return-mariners-manager-2027?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Dipoto has said prior big-league managing experience is "not a prerequisite" but "would be preferred," [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-to-interview-for-mariners-manager-position?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

Seattle also got to Houston's own manager first. Before the Astros announced on Oct. 14 that Joe Espada wouldn't return, they granted him permission to interview with the Mariners, sources told [MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Espada went 256-229 in three seasons and won the AL West in 2024 and 2026.

![John Mozeliak](https://storage.ghost.io/c/11/f7/11f769ba-bd48-4f24-85bd-6d28b6c4ea38/content/images/2026/10/mozeliak-2015.jpg)

John Mozeliak, then the Cardinals' general manager, in November 2015\. Photo: Johnmaxmena2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

**The Angels have an experienced executive making the call.** Wednesday's announcements came from John Mozeliak, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/angels-decline-manager-kurt-suzuki-contract-option?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), the longtime Cardinals GM who has been the Angels' interim GM since June, [per MLB.com's tracker](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Mozeliak said in a statement that conversations "internally and with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment's leadership" shaped the decision. "I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his abilities as a manager," he added, a line Nightengale [also shared on X](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112978351489167661?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Los Angeles isn't fully settled, though. Mozeliak's contract runs through December, and the Angels' GM search was paused as of late September while he awaited word from the incoming owners, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/john-mozeliak-on-angels-manager-general-manager-status-entering-offseason?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

**Houston has no GM yet.** The Astros fired Dana Brown in August, and owner Jim Crane has overseen baseball operations since, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). The GM search is moving: The Athletic's Chandler Rome has named five outside candidates, Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine, White Sox AGM Josh Barfield, Cardinals AGM Randy Flores, Royals AGM Scott Sharp and Braves AGM Ben Sestanovich, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), and internal AGMs Gavin Dickey and Charles Cook have interviewed, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart [reported Wednesday](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Our [GM search tracker](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-gm-search-josh-barfield-and-randy-flores-join-matt-kleine-among-outside-candidates/) has the latest.

How much say Houston's new GM will have in picking the manager is still an open question. "It's unclear how much of a say the new GM will have in the coaching hire," [MLB Trade Rumors wrote](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/matt-kleine-among-the-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), adding that it "figures to be part of the interview discussions." The Astros haven't confirmed whether they'll hire a GM first, [SI noted](https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/onsi/astros-consider-two-internal-candidates-for-vacant-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Seattle, by contrast, already knew Dipoto and Hollander were expected back when Wilson's exit became official.

## The same names keep coming up

Several candidates have been tied to more than one of these jobs:

- **Rocco Baldelli.** The former Twins manager, who spent 2026 as a special assistant with the Dodgers, has drawn interest from Seattle, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). He's on the Houston Chronicle's [list of Astros candidates](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/next-manager-candidates-names-22463657.php?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), and Hoornstra [wrote](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) that he could draw interest from the Angels if he doesn't land in Seattle.
- **Albert Pujols.** Heyman put Pujols among the names in Seattle's sights, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). The Angels interviewed him last year, and he could be a candidate again, [Hoornstra wrote](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). [The Crawfish Boxes](https://www.crawfishboxes.com/houston-astros-analysis/78302/houston-astros-manager-search-6-candidates-to-replace-joe-espada?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) listed him as a possible fit in Houston.
- **Walker McKinven.** The 36-year-old White Sox bench coach is on Heyman's Seattle list, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), and on [the Chronicle's](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/next-manager-candidates-names-22463657.php?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) list for Houston.
- **Espada himself.** Besides meeting with Seattle, he "could stay in the division and replace Suzuki," [Hoornstra wrote](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

Other names have been tied to just one club so far. For the Angels, Hoornstra pointed to former Cardinals and Padres manager Mike Shildt, who worked with Mozeliak in St. Louis. For Houston, the Chronicle's list includes Dodgers bench coach and Houston native Danny Lehmann, Rays bench coach Rodney Linares, Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus and former Cubs manager David Ross.

## Why the calendar matters

The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, a work stoppage is expected and team personnel can't contact 40-man roster players during a lockout, [Hoornstra wrote](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). That shortens the window for any new manager to get acclimated, Hoornstra noted, and the later the hire, the shorter it gets.

The World Series adds another wrinkle. The Rays and Brewers open the Series on Friday, Oct. 23, and a Game 7, if needed, would be Oct. 31, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-world-series-faq-schedule-times-teams-and-more?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). Linares is Tampa Bay's bench coach, [per the Chronicle](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/next-manager-candidates-names-22463657.php?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). And on the GM side, Kleine's Brewers are still playing too. Houston could name a GM before the Series ends, Rome reported, [per MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), though the club hasn't announced a deadline, [SI noted](https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/onsi/astros-consider-two-internal-candidates-for-vacant-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

## What to watch

- **Houston's GM hire.** Watch whether the new GM is announced before the World Series ends and what's said about his role in picking a manager.
- **Seattle's interviews.** If the Mariners land Espada or Baldelli, that's one fewer option for Houston and the Angels.
- **The Angels' structure.** Whether KSE keeps Mozeliak past December or brings in a new head of baseball operations could shape their timeline.
- **Dec. 1.** The closer the hires get to the CBA deadline, the less time any new manager has with his players.

*Sources: [Bob Nightengale on X (openings)](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112977396781781219?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Bob Nightengale on X (Mozeliak)](https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2112978351489167661?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Suzuki)](https://www.mlb.com/news/angels-decline-manager-kurt-suzuki-contract-option?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Sports Illustrated (Angels)](https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/angels-kurt-suzuki-manager-john-mozeliak-kroenke?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Mozeliak)](https://www.mlb.com/news/john-mozeliak-on-angels-manager-general-manager-status-entering-offseason?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Wilson)](https://www.mlb.com/news/dan-wilson-won-t-return-mariners-manager-2027?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Espada and Mariners)](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-to-interview-for-mariners-manager-position?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (Espada exit)](https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-espada-astros-part-ways?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (manager/GM tracker)](https://www.mlb.com/news/manager-rumors-and-candidates?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Brian McTaggart on X](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2112903909597643198?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB Trade Rumors (Kleine)](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/matt-kleine-among-the-candidates-for-astros-gm-job.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Sports Illustrated (Astros GM)](https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/onsi/astros-consider-two-internal-candidates-for-vacant-gm-job?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Houston Chronicle](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/next-manager-candidates-names-22463657.php?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [The Crawfish Boxes](https://www.crawfishboxes.com/houston-astros-analysis/78302/houston-astros-manager-search-6-candidates-to-replace-joe-espada?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [MLB.com (World Series)](https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-world-series-faq-schedule-times-teams-and-more?ref=crawfordboxreport.com), [Crawford Box Report (GM tracker)](https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-gm-search-josh-barfield-and-randy-flores-join-matt-kleine-among-outside-candidates/).*