Astros' Espada set to interview for 2 managerial openings (source)

HOUSTON -- Astros bench coach Joe Espada was set to interview Wednesday for the vacant managerial openings with both the Chicago White Sox and the Miami Marlins, a source told MLB.com.

Espada joined the Astros as bench coach after the 2017 season to replace Alex Cora, who was hired to be the manager of the Red Sox. Espada, 47, is likely to land his first managerial job in the Major Leagues this offseason after interviewing for several jobs in the past few years, including with the A’s, Rangers, Cubs, Mets and Giants.

“Joe's a very astute baseball man, very good worker," Houston manager Dusty Baker said in an off-day news conference on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. "He does his homework. He's prepared. ... So you don't know if you're ready until you get there. But whatever happens, I mean you got to have your first at some point in time.”

The Astros rallied to beat the Mariners, 8-7, in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday and worked out during the off-day.

Espada, a native of Puerto Rico, came up as a coach in the Marlins organization, serving as the hitting coach at Class A Greensboro in 2006 and Class A Jupiter in '07. He served as Miami’s third-base coach from '10-13 before taking a job with the Yankees as special assistant to general manager Brian Cashman. He was named the Yankees third-base coach prior to the '15 season.

The Marlins are looking to replace manager Don Mattingly, who stepped down following seven seasons at the helm in Miami.

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"Some of the candidates are involved in the postseason," said Marlins general manager Kim Ng. "Obviously, it's an exciting time for them, and we have to work around that schedule, and we're trying to be very mindful and very respectful of those candidates and their teams. But at the same time, we're trying to proceed as quickly as we can as well."

The White Sox are looking to replace Tony La Russa, who stepped down for health reasons and missed out on the third year of a three-year deal.