It was a relatively low-key 2024 when it came to managerial changes.
Only four teams made changes, whether they were in-season firings or transactions at the end of the season. The Seattle Mariners, looking for a spark, booted Scott Servais and gave Dan Wilson the job on a permanent basis in late August; the horrendous Chicago White Sox season cost Pedro Grifol his job, with Will Venable taking over; David Bell was fired with a week left in the season, which led to the surprising return of Terry Francona following health issues that prompted him to retire a year prior; and Skip Schumacher, as expected, left the Miami Marlins due to the expiration of his contract, giving Clayton McCullough the opportunity.
But as we enter 2025, there could be much more movement this season. And that isn’t even including guys like Bud Black (Colorado Rockies), who will manage this wayward franchise until he doesn’t want to, and Ron Washington (Los Angeles Angels), in the second year guiding this rudderless team.
There will be a contender who struggles and makes a change in order to make a run at a playoff berth, but there are a handful of managers who enter 2025 squarely with a target on their back.
John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays
Schneider’s tenure got off to a rousing start when he replaced Charlie Montoya on an interim basis in July 2022, with the Blue Jays going 46-28 the rest of the way, earning the top AL wild-card spot. Schneider was a no-brainer to be the full-time skipper and Toronto followed that with an 89-73 in his first full season.
But things went sideways in 2024, with injuries and underperformance leading to a 74-88 mark, which was last in the AL East. The team was a seller at the deadline and faces a critical season with its star player, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., likely heading to free agency, along with shortstop Bo Bichette, right-handed starters Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, and right-handed reliever Chad Green. In what might be a fortuitous situation for the Jays, Schneider’s contract is up after 2025, although there is a club option for 2026. All of this makes it easy for the Jays to cut him loose during the season or simply let him go afterward if there is a rebuild coming.
Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins
Baldelli was on the chopping block last after the Twins surprisingly missed the playoffs after a 12-26 stumble to the finish line resulted in an 82-80 record, 10½ games behind the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians and four games out of the last wild-card berth, which went to another division foe, the Detroit Tigers.
After an offseason in which Derek Falvey, already president of baseball operations, also assumed duties as president of business, and a potential sale of the team fell through but could happen with another buyer, the Twins are in treacherous waters entering 2025. Without any notable additions this offseason, the team that brought us the rally sausage and all its glory is facing a tough rebound, especially in an improving division.
Dave Martinez, Washington Nationals
How serious are the Nationals about competing in the NL East? This season will tell us a lot. There are young players ready to show what they can do, but a lack of offseason additions says this season might be one of treading water to see what the Nats actually have.
Yes, Martinez was the manager of the 2019 team that went on a fabulous run to win the World Series, but their best record since then was 71-91, which came each of the last two seasons. Sooner or later, the goodwill from 2019 will run out.
Oliver Marmol, Cardinals
You won’t get much of a return if you bet on Marmol being fired at some point this season. Even just a year after signing a two-year extension, Marmol was surprisingly kept on for 2025 after a second straight disappointing season. After only having one losing season this century, the Cardinals posted a 71-91 mark in 2023, but did rebound to 83-79 and were a surprising second-place finisher in the NL Central, although it was 10 games behind the division champion Milwaukee Brewers.
The offseason was expected to see a significant roster churn, with third baseman Nolan Arenado and closer Ryan Helsley traded, but the Cardinals entered spring training with both on the roster. With no additions to excite the fan base and a youth movement in place, Marmol enters this season as a lame duck. Not only is Marmol’s contract up at the end of the season but the front office is scheduled for a leadership rotation, with Chaim Bloom taking over for John Mozeliak after the 2025 season.
Derek Shelton, Pittsburgh Pirates
With a generational pitcher set to dominate the league leading a young and talented starting rotation, the Pirates should be primed for contention. A rather inactive offseason says otherwise, which puts Shelton in a bit of jeopardy. Given an extension early in the 2022 season that was only termed as lasting beyond 2023, Shelton is hoping to guide the Pirates to their first winning record since going 82-79 in 2018. They finished 76-86 in each of 2023 and 2024, so that is definitely within reach with right-hander Paul Skenes atop the rotation to begin the season, as opposed to being brought up a month into the schedule.
Yes, the roster did get bolstered by a few veteran additions, but they were all on one-year deals and are low-risk, high-reward. Will a frugal front office be the downfall of Shelton? Possibly, but Skenes and the rotation are what could be the difference in him keeping the job past this season.
Blue Jays fans would cut John Schneider this afternoon if they could, but he is management’s yes-man and the stadium fills up with people buying $20 beverages regardless of how the team plays…