Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada (20) in the first inning during a baseball game against the ... [+]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Following a week in which former veteran catcher David Ross appeared to be the favorite to replace Joe Maddon as the manager of the Cubs, there may be a new leader in the clubhouse.

Figuratively speaking, of course. At least for now.

Astros bench coach Joe Espada will interview for a second time to become Maddon's successor on Chicago's North Side, which was first reported by MLB.com on Sunday. The 44-year-old Espada first interviewed with Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer last week in a meeting that, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, appeared to go very well.

Espada is scheduled to meet again with Epstein and Hoyer ahead before the Astros face the Nationals in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday in Houston after the Astros advanced to the Fall Classic with a dramatic walk-off victory over the Yankees on Saturday.

Espada has been the Astros bench coach since 2018 and took that job after spending four seasons with the Yankees - including three as a the third-base coach following a year working in the front office under Brian Cashman.

The Cubs, who parted ways with Maddon after five seasons three weeks ago, remain in the thick of the action with Espada, who has also reportedly drawn interest for the managerial openings in San Francisco and Pittsburgh and who could be heavily sought after after the World Series depending on which direction the Cubs decide to go.

Epstein has said he has no timetable to name a replacement for Maddon.

Maddon agreed to a three-year deal reportedly worth $15 million last week to manage the Angels, with whom he spent a good share of his baseball life before managing the Rays and Cubs. Since splitting with Maddon, the Cubs have interviewed Ross, former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, recently fired Phillies manager Gabe Kapler as well as internal candidates Mark Loretta and Will Venable in addition to Espada.

The timing of Espada's second interview could be interesting as Major League Baseball prefers teams not make managerial announcements during the World Series.

The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday that the second interview indicates that the Cubs are downplaying the presumed role of favorite that has been given to Ross, who was a key clubhouse figure during the 2016 World Series championship team and who has served as a special assistant to Epstein while working as an ESPN commentator since retiring.

While Ross would have a built-in connection to many current Cubs players, Espada would be fresh out of a winning culture while possessing the leadership qualities that Epstein is looking for in holding players accountable.

Prior to his time with the Yankees, Espada managed in Puerto Rico over two winters in 2012-13 and 2014-15 and was also the Marlins' third base coach from 2010-13 and was the third base coach for Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic team in 2013 and 2017.

Now, depending on how his second meeting goes, he could find himself in Chicago looking at his first managerial job in the majors.

"He's a really good baseball man," Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters during the American League Championship Series. ""He's smart. He's got leadership qualities. Any team that wants to consider him is heading down the right path with him. He's incredible for us. If we lose him, it's because it's another leadership opportunity. If not, then he'll be right by my side."

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