Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. Credit: Getty Images
As the MLB season nears the All-Star break, some teams have played themselves out of possibly not making the playoffs. More specifically, some teams could be looking to replace their manager due to failed expectations. The list is compiled of three managers who might be out of the job during or after the season.
Bob Melvin– San Diego Padres
In this case, the San Diego Padres have one of the highest payrolls in MLB at $246.5 million yet are near the bottom of the NL West. Bob Melvin led this team to the NLCS last season after an 83 –79 record but is on the outside looking in.
The team added former Boston Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts to go with Fernando Tatis and Juan Soto. However, they are currently four games out of the Wild Card picture. Melvin is a great manager, but a turnaround is probably needed to keep his hot seat cool.
Buck Showalter – New York Mets
Similarly, the New York Mets face the same quandary as the Padres with a high payroll (1st in MLB) with an under -.500 record. Buck Showalter has won nearly 1,700 games in his illustrious managerial career and was the NL Manager of the Year last season.
The Mets lost to San Diego in the NL Wild Card series despite their 101–win season in 2022. The franchise has been without two-time All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso for a stretch due to injury. Owner Steve Cohen has not shown that he wants to let go of Showalter, but wins are needed in the Big Apple soon.
David Ross – Chicago Cubs
While the Mets and Padres have World Series aspirations, the Chicago Cubs are looking to make the playoffs. For David Ross, there was a sense that this roster had enough to get there but has fallen short thus far. General manager Jed Hoyer signed Jameson Taillon, Dansby Swanson, and Cody Bellinger to make that push this offseason.
Chicago has been absent from the postseason since the 2020 season, Ross’ first season as manager. What’s more, the Cubs have not posted an 80-win season since 2019. Sitting in fourth place in the NL Central is not where Cubs fans expected the team to be.
