MLB: Top five managers on the hot seat entering 2025

Spring training is underway, and with a month until the season begins, who are the five managers under the most pressure entering 2025?

Rocco Baldelli - Minnesota Twins

A former player, Baldelli has been the Twins’ manager since 2019, leading them to five winning seasons and three division titles, in addition to a trip to the ALDS in 2023. However, the Twins regressed in 2024, finishing fourth in their division and missing the Postseason despite winning 82 games.

With the rest of the division (besides the White Sox) getting better, Baldelli will be under pressure to bring the Twins back to the Postseason and could be let go if they miss out for the second straight year.

John Schneider - Toronto Blue Jays

Schneider took over when Toronto fired Charlie Montoyo halfway through the 2022 season. Since then, he has led Toronto to the Wild Card Series in 2022 and 2023, where they were swept out of the Postseason both times.

Last season, Toronto won just 74 games and finished last in the AL East. They had a busy offseason, signing big-name free agents like Anthony Santander and Jeff Hoffman in an effort to get back to the Postseason. If it doesn’t work, Schneider could certainly be let go.

Kevin Cash - Tampa Bay Rays

Cash has been with the Rays since 2015, but there’s no denying that Tampa Bay’s glory days are over. After back-to-back years as the AL’s top seed in 2020 and 2021, the Rays failed to win a Postseason game and missed the big dance last year. A two-time AL Manager of the Year, Cash will need to succeed with a roster that’s seen a lot of turnover in recent years, and if he can’t, the Rays might finally decide to go in a different direction.

Bob Melvin - San Francisco Giants

While Melvin is only entering year two with the Giants, the team finished under .500 at 80-82 in his first season. San Francisco brought in big names like Willy Adames and Justin Verlander this offseason, and new President of Baseball Operations and franchise icon Buster Posey is hoping Melvin is still the man for the job.

Melvin is the most decorated of any manager thus far, having won three Manager of the Year awards, as well as taking the San Diego Padres to the NLCS in 2022. However, he will be expected to succeed this year to prevent the new leadership from growing impatient.

Derek Shelton - Pittsburgh Pirates

For a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2018, Derek Shelton has gotten a longer leash than expected.

He’s been the Pirates’ skipper since 2020, losing 100+ games in 2021 and 2022. Shelton’s highest win season was 76 in both 2023 and 2024.

While ownership has been reluctant to spend, Shelton hasn’t done the best job developing the Pirates’ talent.

With a core of Paul Skenes, Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and more, Pittsburgh ownership and fans are hoping Shelton can improve in 2025, or else it might be time to pull the plug.

Adam Pietrzak is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu