Joe Espada 'absolutely' wants to return as Astros manager, but awaiting chat with owner Jim Crane

With the Houston Astros eliminated from the playoffs, Joe Espada said he "absolutely" hopes to return as manager but has not been given any indication about his future.

Espada is not under contract beyond this season, his third year as Houston 's manager. The Astros were eliminated Wednesday in the wild-card round by the White Sox , who concluded a sweep of the best-of-three series with a 7-3 win at Daikin Park .

Afterward, Espada said he had not been told anything about his status but that he expected to "have a conversation" with Astros owner Jim Crane "in the next day or two."

"Jim has been very clear about his process and when he wants to have that conversation," Espada said. "I respect the process and how blessed I've been to be here for over nine years and experience so many division titles, championship series, World Series, winning one. As a bench coach, as a manager, I have witnessed so many great moments. So obviously, I would like to continue enjoying those moments."

On Aug. 24, Crane dismissed general manager Dana Brown , who like Espada was in his final year under contract. Brown promoted Espada from bench coach , a role he held for six seasons for Houston , to the manager job after the 2023 season.

Crane said in August that Espada would remain manager for the rest of the season and the team would decide on his future "at the end of the season." At the time, Crane stated that his "expectation" was for the Astros to win the American League West.

Houston did that, albeit with an 81-81 record in a division where no other team finished above .500. It was the fourth straight season the Astros posted a declining win total. They have not won a postseason game since 2023, swept in two wild-card series since then by the Tigers and White Sox.

"He showed up every day wanting to win," second baseman Jose Altuve said of Espada on Wednesday night. "I think he did everything he could to keep us there to keep winning … This is a team, we all work together. I think we're all sad. Like I said, we wanted to go to the World Series and win it."

Flawed roster construction factored into this season's results. The Astros' pitching staff had the seventh-highest ERA in the majors, their outfielders ranked 29th of 30 teams in OPS and they started 19 different pitchers, a franchise record. They won the AL West for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

Whether that will keep Espada in his role is unclear. Crane told the Associated Press this week that the Astros making the playoffs "would be something to consider" when deciding on Espada's future. But a two-game sweep by the White Sox put an abrupt end to their hopes of a run.

"Joe was great for us," shortstop Jeremy Peña said. "Joe is a stand-up guy, stand-up man. He shows up every single day, he wants to win, he works hard. And I think he did everything in his power to be the best version of himself, be the best manager for his players."

The Astros have finished with 88, 87 and 81 wins in their three seasons under Espada. The franchise's streak of eight straight playoff appearances ended in 2025 , when they finished one win shy of a berth. They started 20-31 this season but recovered to clinch the AL West on the season's final day.

"For myself, I know that Joe was with us every step of the way and he was going to do everything he could to put us in the best position to succeed," starter Hunter Brown said. "I think that's exactly what he did."

Espada on Wednesday night dismissed the notion that it was difficult to manage this season without clarity about his future.

"No, it's part of the job," Espada said. "You've still got to win on the baseball field and deliver what the expectations are."

After pushing to secure a playoff spot for the season's final two weeks, the Astros never led in the two wild-card games against the White Sox. They fell behind 3-0 after two innings in Game 1 , when both teams ran bullpen games, and trailed 4-0 in the first inning of Game 2 , a deficit they never erased. The end of their season came with uncertainty about their manager's future.

"I've been blessed," Espada said. "I've been here for a long time. And I've been in a few piles, I've been soaked in Champagne. I have created some really great relationships. I have witnessed some Hall of Fame players that I've coached and I've … been part of some really special years.

"That's every coach, every manager's dream is just to be able to coach and lead players like this in an organization that gives you the opportunity to always get the best players so you can consistently win divisions and go to the World Series. I've been part of that and I'm just blessed just to be part of it."