As February rolls into March, it’s the time of year were spring training baseball is back. But, there are also plenty of other things that come to mind. That’s the part where something like which MLB front offices are under the most pressure. This list is somewhat speculation- some teams don’t disclose publicly the terms of employee contracts, nor details are leaked to reporters.
A contract carries so much weight if a team underperforms and ownership feels the need for a change. Or, ownership might consider a change even if the team is doing well (Miami Marlins parting ways with Kim Ng.) These are the ones who are feeling the pressure well before Opening Day.
MLB Front Office Hot Seat Watch
Brian Cashman, New York Yankees
Brian Cashman is entering his 26th year as the Yankees general manager. The Yankees were a huge disappointment last season. Losing Aaron Judge to injury while watching the offense implode wasn’t the “Yankee Way.” Cashman has never been responsible for a losing season as he is on a contract that runs through 2026. New York hasn’t appeared in a World Series since 2009. A drought like that is unacceptable for many who support the franchise. Many view this season as a “World Series-or-bust” situation following the acquisition of All-Star Juan Soto.
AJ Preller, San Diego Padres
The Padres need to start questioning if AJ Preller is the man they want to lead the club to contention. San Diego was in a two-way race with the New York Mets for the title of “season’s most disappointing team.” Preller has burned substantive capital, of the financial and prospect varieties, to assemble a star-laden roster in pursuit of a World Series. Preller continues to get criticism from all corners of the industry for what other front offices view as “wishful thinking.” Altogether, 2024 is going to be a pivotal one for Preller and Padres organization. If San Diego can find its groove from 2022, Preller may stick around to see things through.
Farhan Zaidi, San Francisco Giants
There are questions about whether this team’s lack of star power could catch up with its president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi. Zaidi’s situation in 2023 can be compared to Chaim Bloom as he has assembled one playoff team during his five-year tenure. The 107-win season in 2021 could be the cause of overperformances. Like Bloom, Zaidi was plucked out of the Tampa Bay Rays front office and was hired by the Giants to build a solid farm system. That and fielding a consistently competitive product on the field. Neither of which have gone well for Zaidi.
Chairman Greg Johnson and the Giants gave Zaidi a three-year extension in October. It will keep him in San Francisco through 2026, the same timeline as Bob Melvin. Despite the middling results, Zaidi has continued to receive public support from ownership, for now.
Perry Minasian, Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles had a slow offseason, not making significant signings to any part of their team. Perry Minasian knew they needed to improve in certain areas as he wasted no time signing players he found necessary. Minasian, who is entering the final year of his contract, blamed himself for the Angels’ roster construction and organizational depth. The Angels had the second-worst injury record in the majors while using a franchise-record 66 players for the second year in a row.
Even before Shohei Ohtani joined the Dodgers, Minasian was clear that the Angels weren’t going to be rebuilding. It aligns with the aggressive nature of owner Arte Moreno, but his approach has created five non-interim general managers running the Angels since he bought the team in 2003. It will take at least a winning season to keep Moreno from making yet another front office change.
Blue Jays Leadership
The good news is that the Blue Jays made the postseason under John Schneider. The bad news is that they’ve been bounced twice without winning a game. They were in the Ohtani and Soto sweepstakes but instead, their whole offseason turned into disappointment. The pressure is on this year as expectations for the club are met with mixed reviews. Toronto has one of the best rotations and bullpens in the majors and an elite defensive team. A group with this much talent should have more postseason success to show for it.
If the same thing happens again, what do they do? Part ways with Ross Atkins? What about John Schneider? Only time will tell.
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