Rumors continue to swirl surrounding the White Sox’s next manager and names continue to come out in connection to the opening. While not a ton is known yet, at least this time, it’s a bit more clear that the club is doing its due diligence on candidates.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Astros bench coach Joe Espada will be interviewing for the White Sox’s managerial opening today. He also has an interview scheduled with the Marlins in what will be a busy day for Espada.
Espada is one of the most popular candidates among White Sox fans, and he is expected to be a hot commodity among teams with a managerial opening this offseason. Currently Dusty Baker‘s bench coach, Espada has a lot of major league coaching experience. He first served as the Marlins’ third base coach from 2010-2013 after spending several seasons as a minor league manager and instructor. He then moved on to the Yankees as a special assistant to Brian Cashman before becoming the bench coach for the Astros in 2017.
When it comes to a resume, few have the resume Espada has at age 47. The only thing he is missing is managerial experience. He has been interviewed for several managerial jobs over the past few years, including for both the Rangers’ and Cubs’ most recent openings. His experience with a winning organization like the Astros only adds to his appeal, and he is well-regarded in the Astros clubhouse – including by Dusty Baker himself.
The Marlins are seen as a likely leader for Espada’s services, given his familiarity with the organization. In addition, there are reports that Espada could simply wait for Dusty Baker’s retirement to eventually take over the role in Houston. However, given how many clubs are expected to pursue Espada, it may finally be his time elsewhere. Given his resume, he is a perfect fit for the White Sox – but they will have to face some competition in at least the Marlins.
For a list of other names to watch during the White Sox managerial search, click here.
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Featured Image: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Great article