The Angels, Astros, Brewers, Cubs, Giants, Guardians and Mets have all hired new managers since the end of the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, one managerial job remains vacant, with the Padres searching for their next skipper.
Here’s a look at the unique challenges and benefits the new manager will be facing when San Diego eventually makes a hire, as well as a breakdown of the seven clubs who have new skippers.
What happened: Although the Padres posted an 82-80 record and missed the postseason in 2023, general manager A.J. Preller announced at the end of the season that Bob Melvin would be returning as the team’s skipper. However, San Diego later granted the Giants permission to interview Melvin for their managerial opening, and San Francisco hired him for the job.
Benefits: The Padres’ next manager will be joining an organization that has a solid foundation consisting of Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Ha-Seong Kim, as well as a GM and ownership group who have shown a willingness to be aggressive in pursuing big-name players to improve the roster.
Challenges: The pressure is on to win now. The Padres have spent a lot of money over the past five years and assembled some talented rosters on paper, but they haven’t turned into a consistent winner yet, with questions arising about the team’s clubhouse culture. The road to the playoffs could get tougher in 2024 — ownership is reportedly looking to cut payroll, which could mean the team won’t be re-signing Blake Snell or Josh Hader in free agency. Soto’s free agency after the 2025 season also looms over the organization.
FILLED OPENINGS
Angels
The Halos declined Phil Nevin’s 2024 club option after they went 119-149 (.444) over parts of two seasons under his stewardship. In his place, they hired Ron Washington, who managed the Rangers from 2007-14 and led the team to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010-11. Washington spent the past seven years as the Braves’ third-base coach.
