Top Three Problems the Next Astros Manager Needs to Fix

The Houston Astros are looking for a new manager. While there are a handful of names floating around, a decision has not been made.

Joe Espada’s contract not being renewed isn’t entirely surprising, given the team’s constant struggles. Despite the challenges, Espada helped them make the playoffs.

However, their record of 81-81 makes that slightly less impressive. Houston finished with the worst record ever for a division winner, and they got swept by the White Sox for a very short playoff run. It was an ugly way to end an ugly season.

The incoming manager has his work cut out for him, with questions to answer and problems to solve.

Here are the top three problems the Astros’ new manager will need to address to get this team back to what it once was.

The Astros’ pitching performance was all over the place. They had a few players really step up, like Peter Lambert. Then, on May 25, Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, and Alimber Santa combined for a no-hitter in a 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers. Yet inconsistent performances on the mound led to many of their brutal losses.

The Astros spent a large part of the last offseason attempting to beef up their pitching staff, and it didn’t really pay off. Their top addition, Imai, struggled, and only a handful of pitchers were left to carry the rotation. Injuries also hit their rotation early, and they lost their ace for much of the first half of the season. That is not to undermine some of the outstanding performances from Lambert, Hunter Brown, and Josh Hader, but they can’t pitch an entire season between the three of them. Their staff needs some new arms and some work.

The Astros may have the strongest bat in the league in Yordan Alvarez, who took the batting title by finishing the season batting .316. But the hot and cold streaks from this lineup kept them riding the edge of the division lead for weeks, and a little consistency could have taken them further into the postseason.

The biggest slump came from Christian Walker. He was hot before the All-Star break but went through a serious slump after returning.

That being said, the new manager will have some serious talent to work with: Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Isaac Paredes, and some younger bats as well, like Cam Smith and potentially Lucas Spence after his explosive performance at the very end of the regular season. The talent is there, but the consistency needs some work.

One of the biggest questions to answer is how to navigate this crowded infield. With all the talent, giving each of these players the playing time they deserve will be tricky. Figuring out where everyone fits will be huge for this team's success. That means figuring out where Carlos Correa fits after returning from ankle surgery and whether to trade Walker.

If the Astros can develop some consistency at the plate and on the mound, they could be a completely different team in 2027.