American League Manager of the Year: Charlie Montoyo – Toronto Blue Jays
For the first time since Bobby Cox won the honor in 1985, the AL Manager of the Year will be working out of Toronto.
Charlie Montoyo had a difficult task in 2019, trying to lead a rebuilding Blue Jays team against the gauntlet known as the American League East. The Jays had a rough season, going 67-95 in a year that was filled with injuries and growing pains for its talented, but inexperienced core.
2020 will be the year that the Blue Jays learn to fly again. Led by the hitting trio of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio, the team will easily improve on last years win total, enough to even threaten in the Wild Card race. The starting rotation, after newly signed ace Hyun-Jin Ryu and prized prospect Tanner Pearson, isn’t spectacular on paper but its filled with arms that have been capable of throwing a lot of innings in the Majors; a weakness on last years club.
Montoyo is going to have the weapons and the circumstances to lead the Jays to drastic improvements and even challenge the Red Sox and Montoyo’s former team, the Rays for second place in the division. These improvements will earn the well-traveled Montoyo, Manager of the Year accolades.