UTK Special 10/10/23

The Manager-Go-Round

So we’re at that point in the off-season where we pretty much know what openings there will be in key positions. Once the Padres decided not to make changes, things become pretty set. Right now, there’s one shotcaller opening, one lower level front office position with the exit of Billy Eppler, and four current managerial vacancies. There are a couple outstanding issues, with Craig Counsell widely rumored to be in the sights of the Mets and Dusty Baker potentially retiring. The openings are with the Mets, Giants, Guardians, and Angels, as well as potentially the Brewers. Some still think the Yankees job could open late, but there’s no indication that anything is happening now.

Talking to people around the league, I also noticed there’s a hard divide between older, experienced managers like Baker, Bruce Bochy, and Buck Showalter, and the younger, more middle-manager or manage-players guys like Rocco Baldelli and Brandon Hyde. Almost everyone seemed to suggest or want one of those, when managers like Craig Counsell and Dave Roberts don’t fit either category. With Terry Francona walking away, it’s a reminder that sometimes it takes the second job, or third, to build up the kind of experience they used to in the minor leagues.

So let’s look at the possibilities:

The Astros are the easiest: If Dusty Baker leaves, there are really only two candidates for the position. Joe Espada is widely considered to be manager in waiting there, to the point of turning down some interviews with other teams. If it’s not him, former Astro Brad Ausmus is still very tight with Jeff Bagwell, who is a close advisor to the owner and considered the functional overseer at the organization. One source mentioned that Jason Varitek, Carlos Beltran, and Raul Ibanez have connections to the Astros, Bagwell, or both, but let’s call them long shots. Varitek especially is unlikely with no GM in place in Boston and the chance that person wants his own guy in place of Alex Cora down the line. That isn’t happening in ‘24, I’m told, at least not quickly.

Want to read the rest? Subscribe now!