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3 MLB managers who could be fired after the All-Star Game

By Kevin Henry |
Jul 15, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (right) talks to home plate umpire Bill Miller (26) during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (right) talks to home plate umpire Bill Miller (26) during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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While Major League Baseball will celebrate the All-Star Game later tonight at Dodger Stadium, there are plenty of team executives who certainly aren’t in a jovial mood as the unofficial start to the second half of the season draws near.

A trio of MLB managers were already fired before the All-Star Game, but it’s safe to say that they likely won’t be the last ones to lose their job prior to the end of the 2022 season.

Which 3 MLB managers could be the next to be fired during the 2022 season?

Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks

Let’s start in the desert where Torey Lovullo was given a one-year deal for this year after guiding Arizona to a 52-110 mark last season. There is a club option in place for 2023, but Arizona is still in the National League West basement, entering the All-Star break with a 40-52 record.

Now in his sixth season overseeing the Diamondbacks, Lovullo has a career mark of 377-423, including a record of 117-197 over the past two-plus campaigns.

There is plenty of excitement building in the desert with a solid start to the 2022 MLB Draft and young players like Alek Thomas and Daulton Varsho showing what they can bring to the team. However, with Arizona already giving Lovullo a one-year extension before this season, will the franchise really extend a manager who has struggled to put together wins and only has one postseason experience (and that came in his first year, 2017)?

It’s certainly hot in Arizona this time of year, and Lovullo’s seat is likely blazing right now as well.

Jun 26, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell argues with home plate umpire Nestor Ceja during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Bell was ejected from the game. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell argues with home plate umpire Nestor Ceja during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Bell was ejected from the game. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports /

David Bell, Cincinnati Reds

Remember when the Cincinnati Reds started this season with a 3-22 record? The team has certainly been better since those horrific first 25 games, but that doesn’t mean that Bell’s job is safe heading into next season.

Certainly part of the reason for the tough start was a depleted roster after an offseason fire sale that sent pitcher Sonny Gray, outfielder Jesse Winker, catcher Tucker Barnhart, and third baseman Eugenio Suárez away from the team after the Reds were so close to making the postseason in 2021. The Reds could sell off even more before the upcoming MLB trade deadline on August 2, so Bell may be playing with even fewer cards as he tries to fight for his job.

Cincinnati enters the All-Star break with a 34-57 record, part of the 223-252 mark Bell has pieced together now in his fourth season as the Reds skipper. Cincinnati has made the playoffs just one time under Bell’s watch, and that was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (they went 31-29 in the regular season, and then 0-2 in the postseason).

Bell signed an extension last season that goes through the 2023 campaign, but don’t be surprised if the Reds look for new leadership as they try to wipe the slate clean from what has been an ugly season.

Jun 29, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4) walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4) walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Dave Martinez, Washington Nationals

With all of the drama surrounding the will-they-or-will-they-not-trade status of Juan Soto and a 31-63 record, is there a franchise more in turmoil at the moment than the Washington Nationals?

All of this drama is a far cry from the 2019 season when Martinez led the Nationals to an incredible run (going 54-26 after starting the season 19-31) to make the postseason, then shepherded the Nationals all the way to the title. Since then, however, it’s been tough going in Washington as the Nationals have seen Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, and Trea Turner leave, Ryan Zimmerman retire, and plenty of wonder about the future of Soto emerge.

Martinez is 297-343 in his fifth season overseeing the Nationals, including a 122-194 record since that magical 2019 world championship. Martinez was just signed to a contract extension through the 2023 season in early July (along with general manager Mike Rizzo), but if the clubhouse starts to get away from him with the losing record and the talk of Soto declining a monster deal already from the Nationals, Martinez may be the fall guy.

Sure, things looked great after Soto won the Home Run Derby on Monday night, but those smiles could well be temporary.

Next. 10 stadiums to visit after the All-Star Game. dark

Washington begins the post-All-Star Game schedule with a six-game road trip to Arizona and Los Angeles to meet the Dodgers, before coming home to face the St. Louis Cardinals for three games. The Nationals are just 2-14 in the month of July, and likely can’t wait for this month to end (and the August 2 trade deadline to pass) on a number of levels.

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