What began as a season that figured to have little managerial and front-office turnover at its conclusion has gone in the opposite direction over the course of a long — and for some teams very disappointing — summer, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Here's a look at the teams that could make shakeups on the bench and/or in the front office:
- Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine seems very likely to be dismissed, as "everyone in baseball is sure he is a goner." Boston likes Toronto manager John Farrell as a possible replacement, but Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has reiterated that organization policy is to preclude personnel from leaving for a lateral move. GM Ben Cherington, meanwhile, appears safe, though other tweaks could be made in the front office.
- Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen's fate is up in the air, but Miami is more likely to shake up its front office. Factions have reportedly taken shape among the organization's top executives.
- The Angels came into the season with very lofty goals after spending heavily in free agency. But owner Arte Moreno is reportedly unhappy with the team's poor play, while some say GM Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia haven't hit it off so far, with the firing of hitting coach Mickey Hatcher earlier this year an apparent point of contention. The pricey balance on Scioscia's contract may make firing him too difficult, though, so his departure could ultimately be his own decision.
- Indians manager Manny Acta has a "very real chance to be fired," as Cleveland has slipped into its second consecutive second-half slump. GM Chris Antonetti, though, is probably safe, as he's well regarded and hasn't yet been on the job for two full years.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski appears to be safe, but manager Jim Leyland, whose contract expires at the end of this season, may not be brought back, as owner Mike Ilitch is displeased with the way this season is going after spending on Prince Fielder in the offseason.
- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is safe after instilling a new attitude in Pittsburgh, but GM Neal Huntington could be in trouble, especially if the team finishes under .500 for a 20th consecutive season.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi is safe despite his frustrations with his team's second-half struggles, and the "popular" GM Brian Cashman is in no trouble.
You must wonder if the Red Sox ownership thinks people will continue to spend money at Fenway without a good team. Having an $80m payroll would save $100m in overhead costs that could go right into their pockets.
That username gives it all away…
FYI and the uninformed others?
Boston has drawn 2m+ for over 40 years…
Sarcasm. How does it work?
Is there anybody on the planet that believes that was sarcasm? I certainly don’t.
Me and the Tooth Fairy believe it.
OH puhleeze….you must not watch Hurdle manage on a day to day basis. We have improved the last two years and are 74-73! NH is giving Clint the players, he’s just screwing them up. Clint’s a great guy, but a lousy manager. ONE winning season (thanks to a miracle Sept by the Rockies) is ALL this ‘great’ manager has done.
As long as Bobby V is gone, before or the day after the season ends, progress will already have been made. Most likely the Jay’s will hold out for compensation for Farrell. I like Brian Butterfield, a smart baseball guy, comes from a strong baseball family. I hope he’s on the interview list. Ausmus, Burelson, Dewey Evans, Merloni, Arnie B( PawSox Mgr),DeMarlo Hale, Tony Pena,Sr., Sandberg–the Sox need a good baseball guy–perhaps someone under the radar that can communicate, is smart and can work with young people.
Hands off LL–this is BenC’s choice to live and die with.
I would love Scioscia to get fired…..then KC could replace Yost with him!!
Fire Scioscia so KC can hire him to replace Yost!!
Be interesting to know who in the Boston front office is telling Heyman that Ben Cherington’s job is safe. Certainly he is not being told this by owner John Henry or CEO Larry Lucchino. Either John is making this up, or someone who works for Cherington is vouching for his job security. Perhaps the bumbler himself is putting out rumors.
Personally I suspect it’s likely that he is safe but isn’t going to be explicitly told so because it doesn’t need to be said. Firing a GM after one season in which the first half was spent dealing with issues related to his predecessor and he was spoon-fed a new manager would be absolutely shocking.
That said, the article doesn’t actually claim that he is safe, it says that “there’s no evidence Cherington […] is in any peril.” It’s a subtle difference, but a difference nonetheless.
I can’t see why Cherington would be an uncertain part of the front office going forward. He has done a nice job with the little flexibility he was given and then stepped up and made a bold move dumping all that money. Now, maybe ownership stepped on his toes a little to get that deal done, but regardless him and Bobby have done the best they can with what they were given. Bobby needs to go, but IMO Cherington is the man going forward.
Man, it is not like Cherington was hired off the street last year. He was Theo’s 1st deputy for 9 years before being promoted. His 1st major decision (to select Dale Sveum) was overridden. The team’s biggest decision, to send A-gon, Beckett and Crawford to the Dodgers was made upstairs in the owner’s suite. He was excluded from having input on that deal…. He was the one who promised Bard a shot at a starter’s job, before Valentine arrived. He spoke publicially against his manager, when he, Valentine, spoke candidly about Youkilis’s lack of effort and commitment. So, he brought in a couple of journeyman and engineered the deal for Bailey…so what? Me, I think the guy is in way over his head and will be let go, all be it gently, before Christmas.
You’ve been saying for a while now you want him gone so I’m thinking you just have something against him.
And something I left out… Cherington cannot fix ALL the issue left my Theo DURING one season. You can’t possibly have thought that was realistic. Sure, he had a part in working with Theo and adding those players, but a very small part as Theo and his higher ups were most likely the ones making the big calls.
The Pirates should have been able to lock up Hanley at the deadline resolving the issue of a cleanup hitter and a shortstop. I know that would have blocked Brock Holt, but honestly, I didn’t think that they would bring him up to the majors until June of next year. As for Huntington, you really need to get your game on with touting your players so that you can get better players in return. No reason why Capps and Doumit should have disappeared without a minimal return.
Not a cleanup hitter, but average (or better) defensive SS and hits for some power who will probably get moved over the winter is Mike Aviles. 2 more years of team control, only made 1.2m this year and won’t cost an awful lot to acquire.
…and Gaby Sanchez is a cleanup hitter? BTW…I think that was a nice move by Neil but he has to look at the potential of a player, not the past track record.
Not so sure the Pirates getting Ramirez would have been a wise move of resources, nor has he carried a cleanup bat (potential) for nearly 3 years.
Huntington probably was a wise man to consider diverting 15mAAV he is owed in another direction, especially since ramirez never really was a cleanup guy anyway, but hit 2nd-3rd for the fish and sometimes even leadoff.
You know? Ask me last year if Gaby could have been one and would have told you yes.. not the best, but he hit better than Hanley did the last 2 years. As to what went wrong with him in 2012? good question.
Maybe the Pirates can find a fair power bat this off season to go along with McCutchen and Alvarez and Aviles wouldn’t hurt any. sending 30m towards someone who had struggled for 2 and a half seasons in Ramirez would have been a gamble big time for the mid market Pirates.
I was also really hoping that the Pirates would have yielded better results for Barmes. Of course, who wasn’t. I wasn’t a big fan of his bat over the past few years, but after talking to him and getting to know him, I was really hoping he would turn it around. This might be the time for the Pirates to get the SS they originally wanted a few years back, Hardy.
I see Manny Acta as a definite goner the day after the season ends. As for Boston, I would tend to think that Valentine’s job is safe after the clubhouse was blown up.
As for front offices, I think that Neal Huntington is going to be safe.
Why are the Yankees even on the list?
Why isn’t Charlie Manual (a manager of an actually disappointing team) or Ron Gardenhire on the list?
Heyman has zero credibility and zero sources outside of Boston… so this list is useless anyway.
Twins ownership tends to put the blame on the person who assembled the team, which is why they fired Bill Smith after last season for assembling such a bad team. The Twins have not fired a manager since 1986, and the firing of Bill Smith was the first time Twins ownership had fired a GM since they relocated from Washington, DC.
As for Charlie Manuel, the Phillies haven’t folded down the stretch, which is why he will definitely be back.
Shame they couldn’t have fired Calvin griffith a few decades before he finally sold the team either.. One of the most tight fisted owners in the history of the game.. Charlie O’Finley and Bill Veeck got a rap for being cheap, but good ‘ol Calvin was as tight (cheap) or cheaper than either of those 2 and Twins fans suffered mightily after their hay-day teams of the early-mid 60’s under his ownership.
i do not see why the angels should fire mike scioscia he has been a very good manager for the angels. just becasue he and jerry dipoto are at odds over the firing of their hitty coach. i don’t think manny acta is that great of a manager. maybe the indians should try to get mike hargrove back. the real big problem with the yankees too many of their core players are flat out just to old. i still see evan longforia in pinstripes jime leyland just might be getting burned out again and just needs to reiter from baseball. he has has had a good run as manager of several teams. bobby valentine should be dismissed. the red sox jumped the gun when they fired terry francona and let go of theio epstine.
I wouldn’t fire Scioscia if the Angels don’t make the playoffs this year but would if the Angels fail to make the playoffs in 2013
I sure hope Chris Antonetti is gone too. His moves as a GM haven’t work out too well. Acta. Antonetti, Shapiro, all ought to be gone.