Members of the Fan Source Network staff came together to share their predictions for which candidates will fill which managerial vacancies.
Los Angeles Angels
B.J. Martin: Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon spent 31 years in the Angels organization and was bench coach for Mike Scioscia’s World Series champion 2002 Angels club. Maddon left for Tampa Bay to manage and of course went to Chicago Cubs to help them get their first World Series title in over a century. Now, Maddon will land the job he probably should have received 20 years ago.
Michael J. McCafferty: Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon has recently interviewed for the open managerial position for the Angels. All signs are pointing to Maddon being their next manager and that is because he has spent 20-plus years as a player and coach in the organization; he also has a house out there.
Danny Podolsky: Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon is almost a lock to land a job somewhere. A World Series manager with Chicago in 2016, Maddon has been linked to several teams as their next manager. Maddon is the Angels’ top choice, and I expect this deal to get done soon.
Yehuda Schwartz: Joe Maddon
Maddon has ties within the Angels organization and there is mutual interest between Maddon and the Angels’ ownership. He’s a very experienced manager.
Andersen Pickard: Joe Maddon
Who are we kidding? Joe Maddon is essentially a lock to be named the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels and anyone who says otherwise is just looking for attention. Maddon won the World Series with a hungry Cubs club in 2016 and he’ll look to do the same with the Angels soon.
San Diego Padres
B.J.: Mark Loretta
Mark Loretta was a fan favorite as a player for the Padres in the early 2000s and just completed his first season as Joe Maddon’s bench coach for the Cubs. Like Dave Martinez before him, Loretta will be the next Maddon disciple to get a managerial position in his native Southern California.
Michael: Phil Nevin
When Nevin played, he was once the face and big name of the San Diego Padres. He has been coaching since 2017 and thought to highly consider for the position due to the fact that he once played there and has been linked as a future manager.
Danny: Mark Loretta
Loretta has worked as a coach with San Diego before and is currently the bench coach for the Cubs. However, the Padres may want a younger manager, while Theo Epstein of the Cubs tends to like managers with more experience, so I think the Padres will poach Loretta from Chicago.
Yehuda: Brad Ausmus
Brad Ausmus is a veteran leader. He is an experienced, passionate manager, which younger players love.
Andersen: Mark Loretta
Mark Loretta already has some ties to San Diego, and he should be able to secure the job as the Padres’ newest manager. The Cubs will now need a new manager and a new bench coach.
San Francisco Giants
B.J.: Bob Geren
Bob Geren will take over the helm from future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy after being Dave Roberts’ bench coach for the rival Dodgers the past four seasons. Geren’s previous managerial experience was with the Oakland Athletics so he will provide a familiar face to Bay Area baseball fans when he assumes his new role with the Giants.
Michael: Hensley Meulens
Meulens has been a coach for the Giants since 2010 and has learned and seen a lot while a part of Bruce Bochy’s staff. While hiring from within isn’t always the best idea, this move would be best for the organization and players. However, one move on the east coast could change how the Giants attack their managerial opening.
Danny: Joe Girardi
The former Yankees manager and World Series Champion, Girardi has been linked to several teams just two years removed from managing. Girardi would be a good hire for the Giants.
Yehuda: Buck Showalter
The veteran leadership Showalter offers is a very good fit for the San Francisco Giants.
Andersen: Hensley Meulens
Hensley Meulens is going to be a manager within a few years, and the Giants need to do all they can to make sure he doesn’t leave San Francisco. It may seem a bit risky, but it’s worth noting that Meulens spent roughly a decade under Bruce Bochy, and this would be a smooth transition for the Giants.
Kansas City Royals
B.J.: Mike Matheny
Mike Matheny won one NL pennant and three NL Central Division titles for the cross-state St. Louis Cardinals. He was hired and worked as special advisor in the Royals’ front office last season and seems like a perfect grooming for heir to retiring Ned Yost. This is a trend we have seen in recent years by the Angels and Mariners before hiring Ausmus and Servais, both from front office roles.”
Michael: Mike Matheny
Mike Matheny was hired as a special advisor for player development and people saw that as the clear heir apparent to longtime manager Ned Yost. Matheny and the Royals are a good match due to his role as special advisor for player development and the Royals’ youth.
Danny: Raul Ibañez
Ibañez currently works as a special advisor for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has experience with the Royals and would be an interesting hire after Ned Yost overstayed his welcome in Kansas City.
Yehuda: Carlos Beltran
Kansas City will field a young team in 2020. Beltran’s past experience with the Royals makes him good fit.
Andersen: Mike Matheny
Matheny was hired as a special advisor last offseason, when it was obvious he was Yost’s heir apparent. Enough said.
New York Mets
B.J.: Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi would be a good fit in Chicago but I think his experience with the New York media and opportunity with a talented Mets pitching staff will lead him to Flushing in 2020. He’ll follow in the steps of Casey Stengel, Yogi Berra, and Joe Torre as managers who were at the helm for both the Yankees and Mets.
Michael: Joe Girardi
The Mets recently moved on from Mickey Callaway despite a much improved second half. The team has said that they are going to target a manager with managerial experience. A big name with managerial experience and knowledge of the city, Joe Girardi would be the perfect match.
Danny: Carlos Beltran
There is mutual interest between Beltran the Mets, and I think this would be a great hire for the Mets. Beltran has been working as a Yankees special advisor since 2018 after he retired from playing in 2017.
Yehuda: Joe Girardi
Mutual interest plus the much-needed firepower, veteran leadership, and experience for this New York Mets team leads me to think Girardi will be named the Mets’ manager. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a former Yankee, so there’s New York bragging rights.
Andersen: Joe Girardi
The New York Mets are looking for big-league experience in their managerial search, and Joe Girardi has just that thanks to his impressive stint with the cross-town Yankees. Other than Maddon and the Angels, there is no better fit between team and candidate.
Pittsburgh Pirates
B.J.: Joey Cora
Joey Cora has been mentioned as potential MLB manager ever since he retired from his playing days. He managed Pittsburgh’s Double-A Altoona in 2016 before being added to the Pirates’ coaching staff for the past three seasons. The Pirates will see if he can provide some World Series magic for the Bucs like his younger brother, Alex, did before him with Boston.
Michael: Dusty Wathan
Dusty Wathan was a successful minor league manager in the Phillies organization and was considered for the their open mangerial position before they hired Gabe Kapler. His name has come up before for open positions, and he would be the ideal fit for a rebuilding Pirates team.
Danny: Jeff Banister
Currently a special assistant for the Pirates, Banister will move up in the organization, replacing Clint Hurdle. Banister managed the Texas Rangers from 2015 to 2018 and won AL Manager of the Year in 2015.
Yehuda: John Gibbons
I have a gut feeling that Gibbons fits well in Pittsburgh.
Andersen Pickard: Jeff Banister
This is one of the most unattractive vacancies in recent baseball history. The Pirates have a bad front office and won’t be contenders for a while. The top names that come to mind for this vacancy are three older, former managers: Jeff Banister, John Gibbons, and Buck Showalter. Banister has the edge because he is a Pirates assistant.
Chicago Cubs
B.J.: David Ross
David Ross was a veteran member and catcher for the 2016 World Series champion Cubs team. He’s spent the last few years developing his chops as a broadcaster but feel he’s the favorite to fill his former skipper’s shoes in Chicago. I also see Joe Girardi and Mark Loretta getting serious consideration by Theo Epstein and co.
Michael: David Ross
Ross is one of the internal candidates for the Cubs’ open mangerial spot and people within the organization seem to like him. Ross played with the Cubs and most of the players on the roster and would be a good fit to lead them in a new direction.
Danny: John Farrell
While Loretta seems like a top choice, I think the Padres will be able to poach him. Farrell has familiarity with Theo Epstein and hiring a coach with World Series experience will help the Cubs, who still believe their window for winning championships is open.
Yehuda: Moises Alou
The Cubs need a new type of manager. The addition of Alou’s leadership should help the younger players.
Andersen: David Ross
I was tempted to go with an outside-of-the-box candidate here because I think the Cubs need someone with big-league managerial experience who can control a clubhouse. I nearly went with John Farrell before reverting to the easy choice. David Ross has his foot in the door and his playing experience should land him this job.
Philadelphia Phillies
B.J.: John Farell
John Farrell was a finalist for the Phillies job before they opted to hire Gabe Kapler. With Kapler gone, I would expect Farrell or current Phillies coach Dusty Wathan to assume the lead role in Philly.
Michael: Sam Fuld
The Phillies are behind in the search for a new manager since they made the late call to fire Kapler. One name to keep in mind for the Phillies is someone in their own house in Sam Fuld.
Danny: Sam Fuld
Sam Fuld is intriguing due to his youth and he currently works as a player information coordinator for the Phillies, so he’s familiar with the organization.
Yehuda: Ryan Howard
Howard knows the game and is a Philly legend.
Andersen: Sam Fuld
Fuld doesn’t want a job anywhere other than Philadelphia at the moment, but it just so happens that there’s a vacancy. Fuld, a former player, is the perfect guy to lead the Phillies.
