Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker introduced his retirement on Thursday, capping a 26-year most likely Hall of Fame profession that integrated 3 pennants and the 2022 World Series identify. Baker’s departure comes simply days after the Astros have been denied a 3rd consecutive go back and forth to the World Series with a Game 7 loss in opposition to the Texas Rangers within the American League Championship Series.
“It has been a tremendous honor to be the leader of this ballclub. Thank you to the fans for their unwavering passion. The amount of love I’ve received in my time in Houston has been unmatched,” Baker mentioned in a team-issued free up.Â
With Baker stepping clear of the managerial post, the Astros will now sign up for a handful of alternative groups in the hunt for new skippers. (You can stay tabs on all the vacancies around the league the usage of CBS Sports’ tracker.) Just who may the Astros succeed in out to as a part of the method?Â
Below, CBS Sports has highlighted six doable applicants. As is continuously the case, that is extra of an artwork than a science. The Astros themselves would possibly not also have a company record in position at this level. With that during thoughts, deal with this for what it’s.
Now, onto it.
1. Joe Espada, Astros bench trainer
Espada is the obvious candidate for the task. He’s served as Houston’s bench trainer for the reason that 2018 season, permitting him to achieve familiarity with the Astros’ avid gamers and front-office group of workers. He’s lengthy been known as a long term manager. He’s interviewed for a handful of vacancies lately, together with with the Marlins and White Sox remaining wintry weather. It turns out like just a topic of time earlier than Espada will get the chance to run his personal crew.
2. Brad Ausmus, former manager
Ausmus appears like a relatively protected guess to obtain an interview given his connections to the Astros franchise. He performed with Houston in 10 of his 18 big-league seasons. He’s since received managerial revel in with the Tigers and the Angels, and he additionally served as the Athletics bench trainer for the 2022 season. Ausmus used to be even connected to the Astros’ basic manager gig remaining wintry weather, and he reportedly completed 2d in that procedure in the back of Dana Brown.Â
3. Troy Snitker, Astros hitting trainer
If the Astros are open to an unconventional selection, then they could raise Snitker to helm the membership. Although he is simplest 34, he is thought to be to be a emerging celebrity within the training international. (His father Brian is the Braves manager.) To wit, Snitker is reportedly a sound candidate for the Guardians’ emptiness, the place he would substitute a distinct retiring manager in Terry Francona.
4. Donnie Ecker, Rangers bench trainer
Speaking of emerging stars, Ecker figures to take pleasure in the Rangers’ pennant victory as a lot as any individual. He’s simplest 37, but his title has began to pop up in reference to managerial vacancies. The Giants, for instance, have been believed to be focused on Ecker. San Francisco has since employed Bob Melvin for the function.
5. Jeff Banister, Diamondbacks bench trainer
Banister, who attended the University of Houston, could additionally take pleasure in his crew’s unexpected run to the World Series. He spent portions of 4 seasons managing the Rangers, main them to a successful file total. It’s simply minutiae at this level, however Banister did interview for the Astros managerial emptiness again within the fall of 2014. The Astros as an alternative employed A.J. Hinch. That labored out OK.
6. Don Kelly, Pirates bench trainer
We’ll finish with Kelly, who additionally has some connections to the Astros. He spent the 2019 season serving as Houston’s first-base trainer. He used to be therefore employed away via the Pirates to perform as Derek Shelton’s bench trainer. Kelly has been within the operating for a number of managerial posts lately, together with the ones belonging to the Mets and Red Sox.Â