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Job openings come with plenty of problems.
One of baseball’s busiest offseasons, with five managerial and two GM jobs up for hire, is fully underway, and it begs the question: Who would want any of these jobs?
OK, maybe that was a bit extreme. But the fact remains there are various issues with all of these jobs that would tend to make them less appealing than they should ordinarily be. Taking them one at a time:
■ Mets GM: Running a club where there is apparently divided ownership (in this case Fred Wilpon is said to want a more experienced, scouting-oriented GM while son Jeff prefers a younger more analytical exec) can be very trying, especially when Fred stays in the background once the season starts. Adding to the complexity of the situation is the troika of two former GMs, Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi plus longtime assistant GM John Rico, all of whom are held in high regard with one Wilpon or the other and are expected to be retained. And then of course there’s the constant comparisons to the Yankees, who are expected to spend a lot more money this winter, have a much deeper farm system, and a much more energized fan base after a second straight trip to the postseason.
It may be in this case Fred Wilpon is right — with all this challenging background, an older, more experienced GM who’s comfortable in his own shoes is what’s needed to guide the Mets forward. But both Twins GM Thad Levine and ex-Red Sox GM Ben Cherington have already passed on the chance to interview with the Mets.
■ Orioles GM and manager: This is by far the worst situation in baseball — both jobs. The Orioles are in complete disarray with an ailing owner in Peter Angelos who is said to be no longer making decisions but has never designated a managing general partner in the event of his death or incapacity. Angelos’ sons, John and Louis, are jointly in charge but neither has any background in baseball, or would know any candidates or where to find candidates — which is why director of player development Brian Graham has been put in charge of conducting the search for a new GM.
Given the uncertainty at ownership, you have to wonder if Graham himself will wind up with the job. As for the manager, there couldn’t be a more dismal situation. This is a terrible team, with the worst farm system in baseball. Anyone taking this job is looking at 100-plus losses for the foreseeable future.
■ Reds manager: This is a team that has had four straight last-place finishes of 94 or more losses with a pitching staff that had the 24th-worst ERA and 25th-worst WHIP in baseball last year. It doesn’t figure to get much better next year or any time soon. Their best pitching prospect, Hunter Greene, had a 4.40 ERA in Single-A. The previous two managers, Jim Riggleman and Bryan Price, had little fan appeal and, with increasingly declining attendance, it would seem GM Dick Williams needs to go outside the organization from the coaching staff and hire a “name” manager with a winning pedigree. Brad Ausmus and John Farrell have been mentioned, but they’re not going to excite anyone. Did someone say Joe Girardi?
■ Twins manager: Twins Hall of Famer Paul Molitor went from AL Manager of the Year to fired in one year, but it wasn’t his fault Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, the Twins’ two top homegrown players, were hurt and ineffective all year, or that their two primary offseason freeagent signings, Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison, were total busts while trade acquisition Jake Odorizzi (7-10, 4.49) was just mediocre.
The Twins, as always, have major pitching issues that figure to doom them to another losing season. Their top prospect, Brusdar Graterol, is at least a year away, and anyone coming in here will be challenged to get this team back in contention, even in a weak division. Indians minor league defensive coach John McDonald has been mentioned as an early candidate but after Molitor and Ron Gardenhire it’s probably a good bet that Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey will be inclined to go for a younger, more analytically adoptive manager this time around.
■ Angels manager: This is another organization that just can’t seem to get it right with pitching — or at least get it healthy. Mike Scioscia, largely regarded as one of the best managers in baseball, departed after three straight losing seasons in Anaheim, mostly because of recurring problems with his starting pitching. Last year, three-fifths of the team’s opening day starting rotation went down with elbow injuries and only three pitchers made over 20 starts. Offensively, the Angels ranked 20th in the majors in on-base pct. and there is the problem of the increasingly declining Albert Pujols (.245/19 HRs/66 RBIs) clogging up the roster. Scioscia could see all of this, realizing there is just not enough of a supporting cast for Mike Trout in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. GM Billy Eppler, a pup out of the Brian Cashman school, almost certainly is going to go for a younger more analytical manager, but this is an organization perpetually caught in neutral and it’s hard to see anyone making a difference right now.
■ Blue Jays manager: John Gibbons, who was beloved by his players and had a year left on his contract, made it known to ownership he had no interest in a rebuild — which is what the Blue Jays are undergoing. Whoever the new manager is, he’ll be treated to the best prospect in baseball, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., centerpiece of the rebuild, but the Blue Jays need so much else, especially pitching, it’s hard to see them competing with the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays any time soon. There is a lot of early talk about Eric Wedge, who managed for team president Mark Shapiro in Cleveland. Hopefully, GM Ross Atkins will go with a younger, more energetic type.