Mariners get permission to interview Joe Espada

The Seattle Mariners have permission to interview Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for their vacant managerial position, a reported step that leaves both his future in Houston and Seattle’s eventual choice undecided. Houston has not publicly announced whether it will retain Espada. His contract is reported to expire at the end of October 2026. The permission allows Seattle to speak with him while he remains employed by a division rival, but it does not establish that Houston intends to part ways with him or that Seattle will hire him. The Mariners are seeking a replacement for Dan Wilson, whom they dismissed after Seattle finished the 2026 season with a 76-86 record. The club’s search follows a disappointing season, and team president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said Seattle is looking for the right person to lead the team. The supplied reports do not give a timetable for the hiring process. Espada managed Houston for three seasons after succeeding Dusty Baker following the 2023 season. He compiled a 256-229 record and led the Astros to American League West titles in 2024 and 2026. Houston was eliminated by the Chicago White Sox in the 2026 Wild Card round.