Astros Reportedly Contacted Former Rangers Skipper Jeff Banister for Manager Opening
By Michael Luciano
The Houston Astros might not think interim manager Joe Espada is the guy to either replace AJ Hinch or lead this team in the aftermath of the sign-stealing scandal. The higher-ups are doing their due diligence with a division foe over the last half-decade that didn't have a job last year.
The Astros have contacted former Rangers manager Jeff Banister, who went 325-313 with Texas.
According to MLB sources former Rangers manager Jeff Banister has been contacted by the #Astros and will interview with team officials this week as the club continues its search for a new manager.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 21, 2020
Banister was a coach under Clint Hurdle with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2011-2014, and was named Rangers manager in 2015. He made the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but was fired in 2018.
Banister is another "old school" guy the Astros are interviewing, as they also had a chat with former Giants and Cubs manager Dusty Baker regarding their managerial job.
Dusty Baker arrived in Houston on Sunday ahead of his interview with the Astros: “They got a good team. They’ve always had a good team and I’ve enjoyed watching them to play and it would be a privilege and an honor to be the manager of this team.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) January 20, 2020
Much more from Baker: pic.twitter.com/K7Hh9ZJQ6m
The downgrade from Hinch to Banister is the Grand Canyon, as Astros fans saw whenever the teams locked horns in divisional play. If you're the optimistic sort, maybe there is a chance that Banister has learned from his mistakes and can navigate the Astros through choppy waters.