Baseball front office personnel under pressure: Identifying general managers and key decision-makers potentially at risk this off-season
In the world of Major League Baseball, the off-season is a time of speculation and change, as teams evaluate their performances and consider potential adjustments to their leadership. Here's a roundup of some of the anticipated moves and current situations across the league.
The Washington Nationals have already parted ways with Mike Rizzo, their long-time General Manager, following a disappointing season. Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Arizona Diamondbacks are not expected to make similar changes in their front offices this fall.
The Colorado Rockies, however, may see some changes. Owner Richard Monfort, known for his admirable loyalty, could face a potential leadership change due to the team's poor performance this season. Bill Schmidt, the current General Manager, may be under scrutiny, particularly given the Rockies' behavior at the trade deadline, selling players, which is not typical for the team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who rank last in runs scored and 29th in park-adjusted production, are also considering changes. Ben Cherington, the team's General Manager, has not won more than 76 games in a year and has not been afforded a high payroll. Cherington's offseason to-do list includes finding offense for the Pirates. Despite earlier dismissing their manager Derek Shelton, the Pirates have yet to sack Cherington.
The Los Angeles Angels' General Manager, Perry Minasian, is under contract for at least one more season. In contrast, the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles are not likely to dismiss their executives after one down year.
The Colorado Rockies have shown increased sensitivity to results this year, firing their longtime manager Bud Black and behaving as a seller at the trade deadline. However, the Rockies have shown unusual loyalty to their staff, with assistant general managers being with the organization since 2006.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have played winning baseball in the second half of the season, but whether this will be enough to save Cherington's job remains to be seen. If Cherington fails to address the team's offensive issues, he could find himself on next year's list of general managers facing potential leadership changes.
In the meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds' president of baseball operations, Perry Minasian, and general manager, Brad Meador, have held their positions for about two years and are unlikely to face sweeping changes just yet.
Professional baseball is a results-based industry, and at some point, blind loyalty can interfere with delivering the best possible product. Teams will continue to evaluate their performances and make decisions that they believe will lead to success in the coming seasons.
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