Houston Astros manager Joe Espada’s job security remains uncertain despite the club entering Thursday tied for first place in the American League West.

That uncertainty has only grown since Houston made a major front-office change late in the season.

In an appearance on Foul Territory TV, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal said Houston’s next baseball-operations hire will shape Espada’s future. The Astros manager is in the final year of his contract. Owner Jim Crane has overseen baseball operations since the club parted ways with general manager Dana Brown on August 24. Crane said he will decide Espada’s future after the season. Rosenthal noted that a new GM typically wants to choose their own manager, even if the Astros win the AL West.

“Usually, you want your new GM to pick their own manager.”

"Usually, you want your new GM to pick their own manager."@Ken_Rosenthal isn't sure Joe Espada's job is safe, even if the Astros win the AL West… pic.twitter.com/43VkdyVI1B

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 17, 2026

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Rosenthal expanded on that point later in the segment, explaining why even a deep postseason run might not guarantee Espada’s return.

“I am fully certain that even if the Astros made it to the World Series and if Crane wanted to change GMs, he would do that. So I don't know that Espada can be saved, but the more the Astros win, the thornier it gets for Crane to obviously make a decision not like that.”

Houston heads into their series finale vs. the Kansas City Royals tonight with a record of 76-76, tied with the Texas Rangers atop the AL West with only 10 games remaining. The Astros hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning nine of 13 meetings vs. Texas this season.

Crane addressed the Astros manager's status in August, saying the manager would finish the season before Houston evaluates his future.

That leaves Espada’s future unresolved as the Astros continue pursuing another division title while Crane prepares to address the organization’s baseball operations leadership after the season.