Managers and front office bosses are always doing their best to progress their teams forward, though this particular list of names could be feeling a bit more pressure this coming season, as 2019 is their final guaranteed year under contract.
As always when compiling this list, a pair of caveats should be noted. Firstly, several teams don’t publicize the lengths of management contracts, and some teams don’t even announce when new contracts have been finalized. It could very well be that at least some of the executives listed have already quietly reached extensions beyond the 2019 season, or there could be some other names with unknown contract terms who have 2019 as their end date.
Secondly, lack of an official contract doesn’t always mean that a manager or an executive is lacking in job security. Some clubs have unofficial handshake agreements in place with the skipper or GM/president of baseball operations, wherein the job is promised as theirs, with the specific contractual details to be hammered out at some point in the future. In the case of managers, specifically, many do prefer some type of public agreement, if for no other reason than to avoid being perceived as a “lame duck” who lacks authority within a clubhouse.
With a big tip of the cap to Cot’s Baseball Contracts for many of these details, here are the managers and executives who are believed to be entering their final seasons…
Angels: General manager Billy Eppler is three years into his original four-year contract to run the Halos’ front office, a term that has yet to result in a winning record. Much has been made about the Angels’ inability to build a contender around Mike Trout during the outfielder’s Cooperstown-level prime years, and time is running short in that regard, given that Trout can become a free agent the 2020 season. In Eppler’s defense, he has added quality pieces like Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton, and Shohei Ohtani as GM, though he has been hampered by a seemingly endless list of pitching injuries, not to mention some payroll-albatross contracts (Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson, and the ongoing Albert Pujols deal) left over from the tenure of previous Angels GM Jerry Dipoto. Longtime manager Mike Scioscia had reportedly always had quite a bit of influence within the front office, though with Scioscia not returning, Eppler had the opportunity to make his own managerial hire in the form of Brad Ausmus. There hasn’t yet been any indication that Eppler could be in particular danger of not being extended, though it’s worth noting that neither of Eppler’s predecessors in the job (Dipoto and Tony Reagins) lasted more than four years.
Blue Jays: Sportsnet.ca’s Shi Davidi noted in September that general manager Ross Atkins was likely to receive an extension, and that such a deal wasn’t likely to receive public acknowledgement. So, Atkins may already be locked up beyond the original end-date of his four-year deal prior to the 2016 season. Atkins and president Mark Shapiro have planted the seeds for a rebuild over the last two seasons, and with the Jays now in full-fledged retooling mode for at least one more year, it makes sense that Atkins would continue to hold the reigns as Toronto prepares for the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. era.
Brewers: This one is a bit speculative, as terms of GM David Stearns’ original deal with the Brewers weren’t released, though The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported in October that “Stearns has at least one year left” under contract. Stearns was hired prior to the 2016 season, so a four- or five-year deal seems pretty standard for a new general manager, particularly one that was seemingly facing a rebuild upon taking the position. Needless to say, things are ahead of schedule in Milwaukee, as the Brewers were just a game away from the World Series last October. Even if Stearns’ deal runs through 2020 rather than just 2019, it seems likely that Brewers ownership will have some talks about an extension this offseason given Stearns’ immediate success.
Cubs: There has already been quite a bit of speculation about Joe Maddon’s future at Wrigley Field, as the Cubs aren’t planning to discuss a new contract with the manager. Though Maddon himself seems unperturbed about the situation and president of baseball ops Theo Epstein denied rumors of any hard feelings with his skipper, it does seem like a dugout change could be made unless the Cubs make another deep postseason run.
Diamondbacks: With two winning seasons and the 2017 NL Manager Of The Year Award on his resume in two years as manager, Torey Lovullo seems like a prime candidate for a new deal. Though Arizona is now moving into a semi-rebuilding phase, this actually seems closer to the situation Lovullo was expected to inherit when he initially took the job, before he led the D’Backs to their surprise postseason berth in 2017. I’d expect Lovullo to have an extension in hand by Opening Day at the latest.
Dodgers: Since president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman signed his five-year, $35MM deal to take over the Dodgers’ front office in October 2014, the club has extended its streak of NL West titles to six in a row, and finally got over the postseason hump to return to the World Series, capturing the NL pennant in each of the last two seasons. While the Comissioner’s Trophy has remained elusive, Friedman has managed to keep the Dodgers competitive even while cutting salaries, getting the team under the luxury tax threshold last season after payrolls touched the $300MM mark earlier this decade. This is probably another instance of an extension being just a matter of time, as the Guggenheim Baseball ownership group seemingly has every reason to want to keep Friedman in the fold for several years to come.
Giants: The leadership shakeup that installed Farhan Zaidi as the Giants’ new GM didn’t extend to the dugout, as longtime manager Bruce Bochy will return for the last year of his current contract and his 13th overall season in San Francisco’s dugout. Bochy turns 64 in April and he has dealt with heart issues in the past, leading to some whispers that he could move into retirement and hand the job over to a new manager. Longtime coaches Hensley Meulens and Ron Wotus have both been mentioned as possible managers-in-waiting, or Zaidi could prefer to hire a new face from outside the organization. It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Bochy stick around in 2020 or beyond, should he want to continue managing and he forms a solid relationship with Zaidi. Given Bochy’s championship-winning track record and the large amount of respect he holds within the organization, the possibility exists that he has already been promised the opportunity to end his tenure on his own terms.
Indians: General manager Mike Chernoff reportedly agreed to an extension with the team in November, though this is technically still an unknown situation since there wasn’t any official confirmation from either side. That said, since Cleveland is one of the organizations that generally stays quiet about contract details for management figures, we can probably consider this one a done deal. Chernoff was promoted to general manager in October 2015, so he could have been at the end of a three-year contract or the Tribe was getting an early jump on extending his four-year contract. It’s also worth noting that president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti signed an extension of indeterminate length back in 2013 and we haven’t heard any further contract news since, so Antonetti could also be approaching the end of a deal…unless he also signed an unreported extension at some point. It’s safe to assume that big changes aren’t in the offing for a team that has won three straight AL Central titles.
Marlins: “There are indications the Marlins would like to retain [Don] Mattingly beyond 2019,” MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro recently reported, though Mattingly said that he had yet to hear from the team about extension negotiations. Mattingly has managed the Fish through three tumultuous years in the organization’s history, and the fact that he is one of the few members of the Jeffrey Loria regime still in Miami could indeed be a sign that Derek Jeter and company have interest in keeping the veteran manager around to help mentor and develop young players during the franchise’s latest rebuild.
Red Sox: Principal owner John Henry recently noted that the team was “running out of time” in regards to an extension with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, whose five-year contract is up after the 2019 season. (Since Dombrowski was hired in August 2015, the deal can probably be more accurately described as 4.5 years in length.) Regardless of when the specific end-date may be, Dombrowski could hardly be in better position to land an extension in the aftermath of Boston’s World Series triumph.
Rockies: 2019 is the last guaranteed year of Bud Black’s contract as manager, though he has a bit of extra cushion since the Rockies hold a club option his services for 2020. Since Black has led Colorado to the postseason in each of his first two seasons as manager, it seems like he’ll at least get that option exercised to add a bit more security, plus the team is likely to discuss a longer-term deal as well.
Royals: GM Dayton Moore has often reiterated that manager Ned Yost will decide on his own when to step away from the dugout, though that won’t happen for at least one more year, as Yost agreed to a one-year extension last September. As Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman put it, however, there is “strong belief” that Yost won’t manage beyond 2019. The Royals’ recent hiring of Mike Matheny to a special advisor role could be another sign that the team already has a successor in place for the 2020 season.
i can’t find salary figures for brad ausmus. any suggestions?
Not all manager salaries are made public
Ausmouse is a bum, he’s paying them!
Ausmus lost in Detroit with hall of fame teams. How he win in Halo time? Nope, should have waited for Buckshowalter, Bullpen whisper. Buck May not win big one but he builds bullpen men. Buck develop nobodies into somebodies for bullpen. See Mariono, Johnson, Britton. Ausmus probably last mistake Eppler can make before walking boots tied for him. LOL
builds bullpens by wrecking starters….
Rip Asmus all you want but dont pretend Showalter is any better
Showalter cursed with bad GM disease. In NY time, had worst. In Baltimore time, has even more worst. Also, coaches in band boxes so starters look bad. Ausmus given super teams, no develop not a player. And lose out so bad rebuild forced on Santa Clause owner like Illitch, spend in small market? Yes, spend all of it. But wasted by Ausmus.
“Even more worst”
That is laughable. Ausmus is terrible Showalter has won everywhere he has been with crap players. Ausmus is a 3rd Class Officer directing the Titanic.
Yes, of course! Who is even more worst than Baltimore front office? Sign Crush to whale contract and Trumbo too. Those anchors sick Buck to the bottom, no matter if Casey Stengel and Sparky Anderson coach them, they lose.
I assume if undisclosed, it means they’re probably ashamed of being cheap/below industry standard.
That could have absolutely nothing to do with being cheap per se. Motivations could be for other reasons, eg, not wanting to disclose and give other teams any info with which to make a higher offer (whether said offer is above or below industry standard).
then why disclose player salaries. In normal work industries if employees discuss rate of pay it can lead to termination. player salariesnare disclose for competitive reasons so why can’t managers.
player salaries actually aren’t required to be released to the general public. As a private industry the finances of a major league baseball team aren’t public knowledge, legally speaking. They just usually leak and nobody cares because it helps generate free publicity.
Actually in normal work industries, the department of labor encourages employees to discuss pay. Employers try to discourage it, but legally they cannot. The only rule on that is that management is not allowed to disclose other employees pay to anyone.
Though many employers have a gag rule on discussing employee salaries, in most cases that rule runs afoul of federal law. Discussion of salaries is protected labor organization under the NLRA, and any employer governed by the law is breaking it by imposing a gag rule. Many states have labor laws more expansive than the NLRA that cover smaller employers; so depending on where you work you may be protected under state law too.
I don’t think you’re right. It’s my understanding that under the CBA player salaries are required to be public. That’s an essential provision so the labor market can function effectively. If players and agents don’t know what the other contracts are, they can’t effectively value the labor they’re selling. Conversely, if teams don’t know, they can’t effectively value the labor they’re buying.
“Public” in this case means to the actors in the MLB market, but because there are so many, for all practical matters it means the fans too.
I think you misinterpret what ‘public knowledge’ means
The Union as a representative of the player who signed the contract is entitled to that information, presumably because the player himself authorizes it. You and me, the ‘general public’ cannot go to a team office and demand to see a copy of a signed contract. The team does not have to publicly disclose that.
It may seem like splitting hairs, but it’s really not. Legally speaking the Union acts on behalf of the players the way a lawyer would work for an individual.
Maddon and Bochy get $6M the final year of their contracts. Alex Cora got $800K? Lol. It’s a new era for manager salaries
Its pretty based on experience.
I see it as a paradigm shift tbh.
Experienced managers aren’t getting retained favor of younger ones. I know it pisses many of u guys off
How long until the next 6M manager? Bochy’s gone after 2019, God knows what happens with Maddon.
Not really. Cora is an inexperienced manager. They are generally underpaid. I’ll guess the next 5M manager is like Maddon or Girardi next year
@ xabial;
That’s because strategy is largely gone from the game.
Most managers are basically baby-sitters and nursemaids to the players; and order-takers that carry out daily instructions from the front office that micro-manages everything baseball.
you can see it however you like, but logic doesn’t care.
proven managers will demand top dollar, teams will pay it.
@petrie000 Sure. Agree.
But seems teams in general nowadays staying away from “proven” managers. Aaron Boone?
What’s next, Jessica Mendoza? Lol.
i think Boone’s gotta actually prove himself competent before other teams go that route. jury’s still out on espn as a qualification…
petrie000: I agree. In fact, the experiment in NY just might lead other clubs to go back to hiring experienced managers.
i think the lesson is ‘rookie’ managers who can speak deeply and intelligently about baseball and have previous managerial experience outside MLB (Cora was heavily involved in the Puerto Rican National and Youth teams) are worth a nice long look
but that’s pretty rare, which is why most rookie managers tend to have considerably worse results with their first team. Using Cora as an example of a coming trend is kind of ridiculous, since he’s so obviously not a typical example of a first time manager.
even if it does work out in NY, cynics will say it’s because Boone was handed a stud roster and the Yankees won DESPITE Aaron Boone…. I’m not saying he’s good or bad. my point is, you can’t win. there’s always a spin even if a guy does everything correctly.
An experienced manager Cora was not..How can you equate him coaching Puerto Rican National and Youth Teams (essentially like Little League and Semi-Pro teams in a 3rd World country) with MLB, the highest level on Planet Earth? Rather a daft notion sir. Only professional job from what I see is his one year as bench coach with the Astros in 2017. I’ve been a Red Sox fan since 1955. and most of my experiences with baseball involve perceptions with knowledge mixed in. Cora was by no means an experienced manager. I don’t think he ever managed in the Winter Leagues let alone in MiLB. He shot himself in the foot many times last year with risky moves but the talent on his team bailed him out over and over thru the season. So no, he wasn’t experienced. But in the end, the team got it’s 4th ring in my lifetime And that is what really matters.
how can i equate the two? possibly because both are managing a baseball team? He made pitching changes, he wrote lineups, he dealt with players and ran a clubhouse… Sure, it wasn’t a major league job, but to dismiss that experience entirely is what’s truly daft.here
Are they the same? no, but you could easily equate it to managing in the minor leagues or college.. So compared to Aaron Boone, for example, he had vastly more practical experience
The experiment that resulted in 100 wins? That one? I understand that wins is by no means the only measure, but let’s not pretend that MLB teams have reason to change direction based on Aaron Boone’s 2018. This, of course, assumes that teams are/were on a particular and similar course to begin with.
Not so long ago, the player-manager was an industry staple. The trend towards younger managers recently out of their playing years is in many ways a return to tradition.
You must not watch any Sunday night baseball on espn
It’s very simple. Your reading comprehension needs sharpening. I did not compare Cora’s managing experience vis a vis with Boone. That was your take. I compared Cora’s meager lower level managing experience.with a typical MLB manager’s experience. Big difference. However you try to stretch the incredulity, managers with little or no experience are more of a recent phenomenon (i.e. Ausmus or Matheny) due to financial concerns or burgeoning sabermetrics. Go back and read the posts. Then speak. It’s the scholarly pursuit.
In the post all you really said was you can’t compare managing anywhere outside on MLB with managing in MLB… Which is still, to use your words, daft.
Managing in MLB isn’t inherently all that different from managing anyhere else. The job requirements are all the same. And that ‘little league’ team your disparaging had players like Yadi Molina and Carlos Beltran, so I highly suspect you know what you’re talking about in the first place.
And using big words to mask a shallow argument doesn’t work nearly as well as you’re hoping it does.
Only hoping to simply make a simple comment on this board that premier experience does matter in a vast majority of hires.at the MLB level. Cora had zero experience as a MLB manager.. Contest that?
According to you, even a frisky chimpanzee could make out a lineup card, inset a pinch hitter, or remove an erratic set up man at any baseball level.
I’ve read your numerous turgid, droning comments on these posts before, Sometimes every other comment on a board comes from petrie triple zero. I’m too long in the tooth to suffer a self-absorbed dolt such as yourself. Spread your manure on someone else’s front lawn. Over and out.
Cubs will be distracted all year with Maddon and he will join the Cardinals in 2020.
Go on cubbies fans.. attack!!
i thought the standard attack against Maddon that he was a constant distraction to begin with?
Maddon distract so players free to play. Then he get most from all and win in new ways too. Effective and innovative, someone will pay him big and he will reward with wins. Maybe even the big one. Maddon to the Tigers please!!
I thought the cards were trying to get back to the “Cardinal way”. Why would they wan’t Joe, it seems they didn’t much care for Dexter bringing Joes laid back way to their clubhouse.
Alex Cora just won a world series in his first year ever managing. Maddon won a world series in his 2nd year with the Cubs. Cora will get a hefty raise.
I can only imagine what they would get if they trade Trout
Eppler has been slowly improving the scouting and development departments – consequently improving the farm system.
It is not sexy, and takes years for results to show.
I understand the urgency to build around Trout, but that is what the owner has been pushing, and it’s not working. Signing a few more Albert Puhols contracts won’t work.
The Angels have also been way behind in developing their analytiics department. Moreno seems reluctant to spend on that side of the equation, but he is also hampered by the bad contracts mentioned above. It will be a shame if Trout, who may end his career as the best player of all time – ends up never playing on the big stage. I loved the Ohtani deal, because it showed the team is moving forward in a contemporary way.. SImmons/Trout/Ohtani is such an incredible nucleus offensively. If they could just harness some pitching they could be an incredibly interesting team.
Trout will be a FA soon, and if he doesn’t get a chance to play in the postseason it will be his decision. I doubt that he’ll stay with the Angels if he feels they aren’t close to contending. He will be able to choose any team he wants to play for.
As to Ohtani, it really showed nothing about the Angels. He picked them, not the reverse. IIRC 26 of the 30 teams all made offers. If them making an offer to Ohtani indicated anything, it indicated the same thing about 25 other clubs. The were lucky to win the Ohtani sweepstakes is all.
Even if they do make the postseason, it will still be his decision. It will all be about his character. Does he want to be seen as a career long franchise icon like Derek Jeter or Tony Gwynn or Chipper Jones OR does he want to be seen as a hired gun that goes to the highest bidder like Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols? Trout has enough money now for 5 generations of his family to not work if they so choose, so I doubt money will be the major issue unless he is simply greedy. Winning is a big thing, but even if he leaves it is far from guaranteed. Baseball is so cyclical that on a long term deal there is good chance that he misses the playoffs 50% of the time anyway. To me the decision will be all about his legacy.
the reality of his situation is that he could choose another team in free agency. then, win a world series or two, while having a stellar 10 more years and go into the HOF wearing a completely different cap than the one he’s wearing now. completely possible.
You seem to suggest that signing with a new team is a sign of bad character. Why? Does good character require that you tie yourself for your entire career to the franchise that happened to draft you, when you had no choice in the matter, whether it’s a good franchise or not? Is a player born and raised in California, whose family lives in California, bound to spend his entire career in Georgia, for example, just because the Braves happen to be the team that drafts him?
Trout grew up in New Jersey and is a Philadelphia Eagle season ticket holder. The Phillies will a ton of money to offer him in two years. If they are in contention in 2020, they might be the favorite to land him.
Does anybody believe that Las Vegas Angels of Ojai via Calexico with naming rights to the 205 on Disney parking lot win 83 games.
it will not be a pujols contract. it will be 2-3 years for a closer unless we can trade for one without giving up much. it will be a lh stopper for 1-2 year contract. if epp wants to sign a f/a catcher it will be 1-2 year contract. he can build a winner without spending that much. but he needs to spend and wisely.
jeter could save money and coach – it’s abundant clear he’s not here to build a winning environment
I think the Marlins are like a starter home. Get your foot in the door, build some equity, and then move into something bigger and nicer.
Andy McPhail and Matt Klentak are past their expiration dates with fans of the Phillies.
The next GM and manager of the Phillies are past their expiration dates with fans of the Phillies.
Indians will keep things the same, and even if they changed anything, it would be a promotion from within the organization. It’s how they roll.
Zuzu’s petals!
Yet Jon Daniels, the second longest tenured GM in baseball, just received an extension last year WHILE needing to be fired! Unbelievable!
If and only if the Cubs don’t retain Maddon, I would LOVE to see Brodie Van Wagenen sign him to become the next Mets GM.
Why? Maddon hasn’t shown he can win with sub par players. The Mets aren’t screaming the 27 Yankees. Maddon does ok with ok players.
Would still be an upgrade over Callaway.
Why would anyone one to dump Bruce Bochy? He managed 4 teams to the World Series, and has 3 winners. And the line ups on those teams are completely different. He has managed through really young teams.
Because it’s been five seasons now since their last championship, and six without winning the division. The days of the Giants basking in nostalgia need to end, and it’s time to put grandpa out to pasture.
“Though Maddon himself seems non-plussed about the situation”
Please look up “nonplussed”. It means surprised or taken aback, which is the opposite of what you are trying to say: Maddon is cool with the situation.
We will fix it, thanks.
Red Sox need to let DD go. He’s a win-now exec and has no interest in the upcoming rebuild his win-now mentality has caused.
Yes, all of baseball really feels for the awful predicament the Red Sox are in right now.
First of all, not all “rebuilds” involve complete destruction and scorched earth; there’s more than one way to do it.
Secondly, a lot of teams need a win-now mentality, including the Red Sox.
Thirdly, are you out of your mind? DD gave your ungrateful self a Worlf Series to brag about.
Black has been excellent for the Rockies. I knew they would be good with a competent manager who understands pitching.
Please please please let there be no extension for Ross Atkins. The Jays need an elite GM.
Eppler should get an extension hes had a handful of injuries and had no farm system when he came in now he will have the 12th ranked farm system.
Would any team like to trade their President of Baseball Operations for the Cardinals President of Baseball Operations?? I’m sure the fans will throw in a boot with him too. 2019 is too late to cover up all of the blunders of the past!!!
No chance Bochy controls his own destiny after 2019. He’s being kept this year because of his track record and respect he deserves, but this is the end of the line.
The delay on re-signing Dombrowski may be restricting his ability to move financially to re-sign Kimbrel were he to exceed $246M with the Luxury Tax, draft pick loss and international signing money issues.
108 year drought washed away and Joe made it happen sign him to a 10yr extension