It’s too early to predict with complete accuracy which franchises will be looking for new general managers in the coming months, but it’s fair to assume that an opening or two will emerge, maybe more. In anticipation of these openings MLBTR has surveyed dozens of baseball people about candidates for general manager jobs. Over the course of the past six weeks, Tim Dierkes and I have heard from a diverse collection of voices, including GMs, agents, scouting directors, scouts, former GMs and, we expect, future GMs.
It's now time to present the resulting list of 20 GM candidates, plus honorable mentions. The list is by no means comprehensive; we acknowledge in advance that the list of qualified GM candidates extends beyond the 28 names below. We have limited the list to those who obtained three votes or more from their peers within the game and we are focusing on the candidates who have yet to accept a permanent GM job. Many former GMs like Josh Byrnes and Paul DePodesta received votes, but we are presenting those who haven't had a full-time gig.
Here is MLBTR’s inaugural list of the top 20 GM candidates in MLB:
- Jerry Dipoto, Senior VP, Scouting & Player Development, Diamondbacks
- Rick Hahn, VP, AGM, White Sox
- Thad Levine, AGM, Rangers
- Ben Cherington, Senior VP, AGM, Red Sox
- David Forst, AGM, Athletics
- Tony LaCava, VP Baseball Operations and AGM, Blue Jays
- Mike Chernoff, AGM, Indians
- Bryan Minniti, AGM, Nationals
- A.J. Preller, Senior Director, Player Personnel, Rangers
- Kim Ng, MLB
- DeJon Watson, AGM, Player Development, Dodgers
- Al Avila, VP, AGM, Tigers
- Damon Oppenheimer, Scouting Director, Yankees
- Mike Radcliff, Vice President of Player Personnel, Twins
- Bill Geivett, Sr. VP Scouting & Player Development, AGM, Rockies
- John Ricco, VP, AGM, Mets
- Jeff Kingston, AGM, Mariners
- Logan White, AGM, Amateur & International Scouting, Dodgers
- Peter Woodfork, MLB
- Matt Klentak, Director of Baseball Operations, Orioles
Honorable mentions in alphabetical order: Matt Arnold, Director, Pro Scouting (Rays), Jeff Bridich, Senior Director of Baseball Operations (Rockies), John Coppolella, Director of Baseball Administration (Braves), Dan Jennings, VP Player Personnel & AGM (Marlins), Jason McLeod, VP, AGM (Padres), J.J. Picollo, AGM, Scouting & Player Development (Royals), Shiraz Rehman, Director of Player Personnel (Diamondbacks) and Josh Stein, Director of Baseball Operations (Padres).
