4 MLB Managers Most Likely to Be Fired This Season
Sportsgrid Staff
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John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
John Schneider took over for Charlie Montoyo in July 2022 and guided the Blue Jays to a playoff berth. Could they revisit that strategy if their season doesn't turn around soon?
Under Schneider, the Blue Jays have been swept out in the Wild Card series two years in a row. With the team below .500 early in 2024 and unlikely to contend in the competitive AL East, their playoff chances look slim.
The Blue Jays might decide that their core players, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, aren't sufficient for a title run and could entertain trade offers for them this summer. However, such decisions are more likely to be made in the offseason, after seeing how the 2024 campaign plays out with a team that appears strong on paper.
If a major in-season change doesn't involve stepping back, perhaps a managerial shakeup could produce a surprising turnaround, similar to the 2022 Phillies' resurgence.
This post written by Tim Kelly appeared first on Just Baseball.
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Pedro Grifol, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a dismal start in March and April, posting a 6-24 record and resembling one of the worst teams in MLB history. In such situations, leadership often faces consequences, even though the Chicago roster was so weak that there was little manager Pedro Grifol could realistically do to turn things around.
This is only Grifol's second season as manager, and he hasn't had a fair opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities. However, after going 61-101 in his first season, achieving that win total in 2024 would now seem like a minor miracle.
First-year general manager Chris Getz hasn't had enough time to rebuild the team either. A common strategy to buy time is to make a managerial change, selecting your own candidate while reshaping the roster. It seems inevitable that Getz will replace Grifol, whether it happens mid-season or afterward.
This post written by Tim Kelly appeared first on Just Baseball.
Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins
This name will likely come as a surprise to many. Despite a -57 run differential last year, the Marlins managed 84 wins and made the playoffs for only the fourth time in franchise history. In his debut season, Skip Schumaker won NL Manager of the Year.
However, as is often the case with the Marlins after a rare playoff run, the team regressed rather than improved. Kim Ng resigned as general manager after a proposal to hire a president of baseball operations who would outrank her. Peter Bendix was brought in but made little progress.
With a series of pitching injuries compounding the situation, it's unsurprising that the Marlins are currently one of the worst-performing teams in baseball through the season’s early stages.
Following Ng's exit, Schumaker asked the team to decline his 2025 option, giving him the flexibility to leave after this season if he chooses. The Marlins granted his request, and with 2024 already shaping up to be a lost cause, it's almost certain that he won't return in 2025.
Given the team's dysfunction, it wouldn't be shocking if the Marlins opted to part ways with Schumaker mid-season, framing it as their decision rather than his.
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Bud Black, Colorado Rockies
No one claims that Bud Black has been set up for success. The Rockies' seven-year, $182 million contract with Kris Bryant before the 2022 season has turned into a nightmare, and, like much of their history, the team has a poor starting rotation.
This is Black's eighth season managing the Rockies, and while they reached the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, they've arguably been MLB's worst team since. Although Black can't be fully blamed for this, Dick Monfort's ownership group often settles for mere participation, making a sixth straight losing season unsurprising.
Part of maintaining the illusion of effort, even when it's minimal, involves periodically changing managers. With a disastrous start this season, it could be time for a fresh voice, especially if ownership is looking to deflect responsibility. While it's more likely that Black, 66, will be dismissed after the season, an in-season change can't be ruled out.
John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
John Schneider took over for Charlie Montoyo in July 2022 and guided the Blue Jays to a playoff berth. Could they revisit that strategy if their season doesn't turn around soon?
Under Schneider, the Blue Jays have been swept out in the Wild Card series two years in a row. With the team below .500 early in 2024 and unlikely to contend in the competitive AL East, their playoff chances look slim.
The Blue Jays might decide that their core players, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, aren't sufficient for a title run and could entertain trade offers for them this summer. However, such decisions are more likely to be made in the offseason, after seeing how the 2024 campaign plays out with a team that appears strong on paper.
If a major in-season change doesn't involve stepping back, perhaps a managerial shakeup could produce a surprising turnaround, similar to the 2022 Phillies' resurgence.
This post written by Tim Kelly appeared first on Just Baseball.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Pedro Grifol, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a dismal start in March and April, posting a 6-24 record and resembling one of the worst teams in MLB history. In such situations, leadership often faces consequences, even though the Chicago roster was so weak that there was little manager Pedro Grifol could realistically do to turn things around.
This is only Grifol's second season as manager, and he hasn't had a fair opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities. However, after going 61-101 in his first season, achieving that win total in 2024 would now seem like a minor miracle.
First-year general manager Chris Getz hasn't had enough time to rebuild the team either. A common strategy to buy time is to make a managerial change, selecting your own candidate while reshaping the roster. It seems inevitable that Getz will replace Grifol, whether it happens mid-season or afterward.
This post written by Tim Kelly appeared first on Just Baseball.
