The Houston Astros are currently in search of their next manager following the retirement of their skipper Dusty Baker from the sport on October 24.
The 74-year-old, the oldest manager in the MLB last season, finally called it a career after the Astros came up short to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the 2023 ALCS a month ago.
Under Baker's leadership, which began in 2020, the Astros experienced significant success, making the ALCS in his four seasons and reaching the World Series in 2021 and 2022.
After coming up short at first, Baker guided the team to a World Series triumph in 2022, and they had their sights set on potentially securing a consecutive championship before their recent elimination.
With the Dusty Baker era a thing of the past, here are five potential candidates that the Astros should consider for their next manager:
1. Omar Lopez
The Venezuelan coach has been associated with the Astros organization for the last 25 seasons, serving in various capacities in their minor league affiliates since the 1999 season. He recommended the club to sign a 16-year-old José Altuve, which proved to be a fruitful move.
Lopez became the first base coach of the team in the 2020 season, a role which he continues to do today.
Additionally, he managed the Venezuelan national team to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
2. Jeff Banister
Currently holding the position of the Arizona Diamondbacks' bench coach, Banister has previously undergone interviews for the Astros' managerial position during its vacancies in 2014 and 2020.
With the current opportunity, the third time may be his charm. He has won the 2015 AL Manager of the Year with the Texas Rangers.
3. Troy Snitker
Snitker, the youngest candidate on the list at 34, is regarded as one of the emerging stars in the coaching realm, and the Astros already have him within their ranks.
He is the son of Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, and they both faced off in the 2021 World Series.
Despite the familial ties, he has demonstrated his proficiency as the hitting coach for the Astros. He is also the leading candidate to replace the legendary Terry Francona as the manager of the Cleveland Guardians.
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4. Brad Ausmus
Ausmus has a deep-rooted history with the Astros, having been a player for the team for 10 seasons spanning two stints.
Moreover, he has previously been considered for both general manager and managerial positions within the organization during prior vacancies, and it is anticipated that he will once again be in contention.
5. Joe Espada
The Puerto Rican has served as the bench coach for the Astros since the 2018 season under A. J. Hinch and Baker.
Espada is highly popular among the Astros players, and he is the obvious choice to run the team if they want to maintain continuity from Baker's successful tenure.
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