The Houston Astros are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in recent years. They missed the postseason for the first time since the 2016 season.
Injuries played a big role in the club’s lackluster year, but that was not all. Other players failed to play up to expectations, making for a shortened season.
Now, the club faces an important offseason, not just for the players but for some of the guys who call the shots. Both Dana Brown and Joe Espada are in the final year of their contracts, and a lot is riding on the club’s performance in 2026.
Astros’ Joe Espada and Dana Brown are making it a goal to retire in Houston
Neither Espada nor Brown has any aspirations to work for another club. They plan to have a good season and hopefully get new contracts, leading to them both retiring in Houston, via The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.
“Joe and I had the conversations that we both want to retire here. That’s our goal. The way we’re going to be able to do that is to put a good team together, win, get deep into the postseason and then our contracts will take care of itself.”
Their goal is a lot easier said than done, especially with the holes Houston faces.
They will need to grab another frontline starter or two, with Framber Valdez likely signing elsewhere. They could also use another high-leverage reliever to pair with Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader.
Expect this club to be aggressive over the next few weeks/months. Espada and Brown cannot feel comfortable putting their futures on the line for the product the club currently has. They need to be smart about the moves they make, or the two’s jobs could seriously be in jeopardy after the 2026 season closes.
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