It appears that the frontrunners to manage the Houston Astros next year and beyond are veteran bench coach Joe Espada, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Dusty Baker the last four seasons, and Brad Ausmus, whose only attribute seems to be that he’s buddies with Jim Crane whisperer Jeff Bagwell.

Some decisions are easy: the right choice is Espada.

The Astros can hire pretty much any available candidate they want but why not go with a proven commodity who knows the lay of the land? Managing the Astros in 2024 is one of the sweetest plum jobs in baseball history. You know the stats: seven consecutive ALCS appearances, four World Series appearances since 2017, two championships. The team is locked and loaded for another post-season run with practically every key player from last year returning.

When a team wins its division and comes within one game of making the World Series – and it’s considered a disappointing season – who wouldn’t jump at the chance to manage the Astros in 2024?

This isn’t like a team that finished in last place and a total rebuild is necessary. The Astros don’t need to repair its foundation or knock down walls. The Astros organization is an architectural masterpiece. All the Astros need is a new coat of paint in the form of a manager to guide the best roster in baseball to another World Series run.

Just fill out the lineup card, install Yanier Diaz as the everyday catcher, and roll the ball onto the field.

So when Crane and general manager Dana Brown interview candidates, their only consideration should be … will the Astros give 100 percent for this guy? I was going to say 110 percent, but I don’t need Charlie Pallilo lecturing me how it’s empirically impossible to give more than 100 percent. It’s just an expression, Charlie.

The Astros don’t need to conduct interviews with retreads like Buck Showalter, Joe Maddon, Don Mattingly, etc. It doesn’t make sense to bring in first-time candidates from other organizations. The obvious choice is right under the Astros nose. His butt print already is on the bench.

With Espada, owner Crane wouldn’t have to pay moving expenses to pack up his family, hire Three Hunks and a Truck and look for a home in Houston. From all indications, the players like and respect Espada. He’s been an eyewitness to the Astros current dynasty. There would be no learning curve, no need to wear a tag that says, “Hello, my name is Joe Espada.”

Every other candidate for the job would bring unknowns and question marks. Espada checks all the boxes. The Astros should play the chalk and hire Espada now so general manager Brown can start finding money to keep reliever Hector Neres and look for lefty bat. Spring training is, yikes, only three months away.