Best Available Jobs

After making what looks like it was a serious pursuit of Albert Pujols as their next manager, the Angels have instead hired former catcher Kurt Suzuki, who has no previous managerial experience.  The Angels are the second team to officially fill their managerial opening this offseason.  The first was their AL West rivals the Rangers, who pounced early and locked up former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker a few days after the season ended.

And, while it isn't official let, the Giants also appear close to hiring their new manager.  San Francisco is also closing in on someone with no previous professional managerial experience--University of Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello.  We've seen it work in the other three men's major sports, but nobody has successfully made the jump right from college baseball to Major League manager before.  It's a bold move by Buster Posey, who's definitely trying to make his mark as GM.  Whether it'll actually work remains to be seen.

Even though the Angels have moved in a different direction, there's still a chance we could see future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols back in a Major League dugout--this time as a manager--in the 2026 season.  He's set to manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but he obviously won't be able to do that if he gets a Major League job.  And that seems to be a real possibility.  Pujols is interviewing with the Padres.  And that San Diego job is one of the most attractive managerial openings remaining.

Not counting the Giants, there are six openings that are yet to be filled.  Some are definitely better than others, both the situation and the ability to be competitive.  None of the interim managers who completed the 2025 season are in the running for the permanent job with their current team, either.  Those teams are obviously looking for a fresh approach from somebody new.  But those are the jobs that won't exactly be easy.  In fact, they might be the four hardest jobs out there.

Only 30 men have the job of "Major League manager."  So, it's not like they're in a position to be picky.  If they were, though, which job would be the one you wanted if you did have the choice.  Here's how I rate the nine managerial jobs that will be occupied by someone who didn't end the 2025 season in the position with that team.  (For the sake of the rankings, I'm including the 2.5 that have already been filled since they do still represent managerial changes.)

9. Rockies: Bud Black was sacrificed in May, but he wasn't responsible for Colorado's historically bad season, nor was there anything he could do about it.  Whoever takes the Rockies job will be in a similar boat.  They aren't going to be any good next season, so their new manager better be prepared to lose a lot of games.  The front office needs to be prepared for that, too.  Let the new manager build something.  Don't expect success right away.

8. Angels: Suzuki will be the Angels' fifth manager since Mike Scoscia's 19-year tenure.  Frankly, Albert Pujols caught a break here.  Because you don't want this to be your first managerial job.  The Angels have been a mess ever since Arte Moreno bought the team, and it seems like he's very Jim Dolan-esque (which isn't a compliment).  No matter who the manager is, this team consistently fails to meet its own high expectations.  Angels managers are seemingly set up to fail.  Is it just so their inevitable firings can be justified?

7. Nationals: This can be a good job when the Nationals are invested and trying to win.  Right now, they aren't.  It could still be a good opportunity for a young manager, who can develop the talent and still be there when they get good, assuming the organization has the patience for that.  Problem is, with the exception of the Marlins, the rest of the NL East is really good.  And it doesn't seem like that'll be changing anytime soon.  So, there will probably be a lot more losing in Washington for a little while.

6. Twins: Rocco Baldelli had a decent run in Minnesota, but it was definitely time for a change.  This was a tough one for me.  Because the AL Central is such a crapshoot and the Twins have so much talent that it isn't crazy to envision their new manager finding success right away.  After all, we usually see a first-year manager take his team to the playoffs.  Or, they could have a season like this one.  Either way, though, the Twins organization generally shows patience, so whoever it is won't have to worry about immediately being shown the door if they don't win right away.

5. Orioles: Another tough one.  In one respect, Baltimore is a very attractive job.  They were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in 2023 and have the type of young talent that would make anybody jealous.  It's not crazy to think they can turn it around.  But, they're in the AL East, a division in which each of the other four teams has faced the Dodgers in the World Series since 2018.  Three of those division rivals are big market teams that will always be willing to invest financially in their team, and the fourth is Tampa Bay and miracle-worker Kevin Cash.  Still, though, the Orioles have shown they can win this division, so there's no reason to believe they can't do it again.

4. Rangers: In a lot of ways, Texas is like Baltimore.  The Rangers aren't too far removed from winning the World Series, and they have very talented core group.  Winning in a division that also includes Houston and Seattle won't necessarily be easy, though.  And this does seem like one of the jobs where results will be expected immediately.  Schumaker was the NL Manager of the Year in 2023, when he took Miami to the playoffs.  If he can take the Marlins to the playoffs, that will be the bare minimum the Rangers front office and fans expect.

3. Giants: Beating the Dodgers will continue to be a tall order for the next few years.  The rest of the NL West needs to understand that and adjust their expectations accordingly.  Still, though, this is a great job.  The Giants have shown that they aren't afraid to spend money and go after stars (of which they already have a few).  They'll go all-in.  That also means there'll be pressure to win right away.  Which means Vitello (assuming it's him) will have his work cut out for him.

2. Padres: San Diego rates one spot higher simply because the Padres' recent success with a core that'll remain mostly intact makes this an extremely desirable opening.  This has been a playoff team, and there's no reason to believe they won't be again.  Just making the playoffs might not be enough, though.  Not for a team that's consistently there, but has only one NLCS appearance to show for it.  Whoever comes in will be expected to do something about that.  Which actually sounds like a pretty fun challenge.

1. Braves: It was an easy choice for the most appealing managerial opening.  Everything is set up for Atlanta's new manager to be successful.  The Braves' 2025 season was one of those where everything that could go wrong did, and Brian Snitker paid the price.  His was a mutual parting, though, and he'll remain with the organization in a front office capacity.  Snitker's successor is well-positioned to get the Braves to the playoffs, assuming they have just a little bit better luck in 2026.