Managers On The Hot Seat

It is a slow news day, so we are going to venture a bit off the beaten path…As spring training is now in full swing, a number of managers may have their jobs on the line during the ’08 season. Three managers are in the final year of their deals and another 12 managers have two years left on their contracts. This second group will be due either an extension or a pink slip next winter as few teams are willing to play out a season with a lame-duck manager. Therefore, any manager with two years remaining on their contracts (including options) will likely have their fate determined prior to the ’09 season.

Ignoring managers that may be on the hot seat for other reasons (i.e. Willie Randolph), here is a list of managers that could potentially have their jobs on the line in ’08 based on their current contract situations. (Numbers in parentheses represent the number of years remaining on current contract)

• Cecil Cooper, HOU (2)
• Bob Geren, OAK (1+1 team option)
• John Gibbons, TOR (1)
• Bobby Cox, ATL (1)
• Ned Yost, MIL (1+1 team option)
• Tony LaRussa (2)
• Bruce Bochy (2)
• John McLaren, SEA (1)
• Fredi Gonzalez, FLA (2)
• Dave Trembley, BAL (1+1 team option)
• Bud Black, SD (1+1 team option)
• Joe Maddon, TB (2)
• Clint Hurdle, COL (2)
• Jim Leyland, DET (2)
• Ron Gardenhire, MIN (2)

Taking a closer look at the list…Of the managers in the final year of their deal, Cox will be back if he chooses. LaRussa and Leyland may very well enter ’09 without new deals considering their ages. Yost, Gardenhire, Hurdle and Black look like locks for extensions prior to ’09. However, the remaining eight names on the list (Cooper, Geren, Bochy, Gonzalez, Trembley, Maddon, Gibbons, McLaren) may very well be managing for their jobs in ’08.

By Cork Gaines