Who Will Manage The Houston Astros In 2020? Ex-Yankees' Coaches, World Series Winner Are Candidates

With A.J. Hinch suspended for the 2020 MLB season and subsequently fired, the Houston Astros need a new manager. According to recent reports, the list of candidates features some of the most experienced managers in recent history.

Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston identified some marquee names that the Astros are targeting. Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, who rank in the top-15 in most all-time wins, are on the list. Houston interviewed Buck Showalter Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

If the Astros choose to go with someone already on the staff, they will probably pick bench coach Joe Espada. Espada was the New York Yankees’ third-base coach in 2017 when Houston used its sign-stealing scheme to eliminate the Yankees from the playoffs. He interviewed twice for the Chicago Cubs’ managerial opening this offseason.

Cubs’ third-base coach Will Venable and Raúl Ibañez are candidates. Jeff Banister, who managed the Texas Rangers from 2015-2018, is under consideration, according to MLB.com. Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons reportedly interviewed for the job Wednesday.

Who's the front-runner to be the next #Astros skipper?@Ken_Rosenthal | #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/BYNWL0KKqW
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 16, 2020

Buck Showalter, who interviewed with #Astros yesterday, has managed teams in crisis before. Was a #Yankees coach in 1990-‘91 and then their manager from ‘92 to ‘95 - a period that overlapped with the suspension of NYY owner George Steinbrenner from July 30, 1990 to March 1, 1993.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 16, 2020

Showalter might be the most interesting option. Since the 1992 season, he’s managed four different teams. He led the Yankees to their first playoff appearance in 14 years and took the Arizona Diamondbacks to the postseason in the franchise’s second year in existence.

The Baltimore Orioles missed the playoffs every year from 1998-2009. Showalter was hired for the 2010 season and led Baltimore to the postseason in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Bochy is the most-decorated manager available. He won World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014 with the San Francisco Giants. The 64-year-old might be an unlikely hire since he retired at the end of the 2019 season.

Baker reached Game 7 of the 2002 World Series with San Francisco and Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS with the Cubs. He led the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals to multiple playoff appearances last decade.

Despite the scandal, Houston is a more attractive job than most. The team has averaged 103.7 wins over the last three seasons.