MLB rumors: Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Mets

Now that it’s mid-August, let the MLB rumors begin to fly about potential managerial openings in the offseason and which managers could be on the hot seat as the postseason chase continues.

MLB rumors surrounding the managers of the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, New York Mets

In his latest column for USA Today, MLB insider writes that there could be “as many as 10 managerial openings this winter,” making for what could be a very interesting offseason for a third of MLB clubs. That number, Nightengale writes, includes what may happen for the Houston Astros if Dusty Baker retires and Milwaukee Brewers if Craig Counsell steps down.

Those two openings would happen because of a manager’s decision. However, there are plenty of other places where the manager may not be the one making the decision on his future, Nightengale writes.

That includes a pair of National League teams that are competing for MLB’s biggest disappointment of the season in the New York Mets and San Diego Padres. Both were teams with high payrolls that will likely be sitting at home in October (although the Padres still have a one-in-five chance to make the postseason, per FanGraphs).

Nightengale says about San Diego that, “If the Padres don’t reach the postseason, Bob Melvin could take the fall with bench coach Ryan Flaherty a strong candidate to succeed him.” In New York, Nightengale believes, “Buck Showalter’s fate may depend on front office hires, with current-Brewers executive David Stearns the favorite to become New York’s president of baseball operations.”

Both are interesting options, with Melvin and Showalter both still having a year remaining on their contracts. Showalter is especially intriguing knowing he led the Mets to a season with 100-plus wins in 2022 while earning National League Manager of the Year honors.

In the American League, Nightengale points to Toronto manager John Schneider as someone who needs his team to get into the postseason to keep his job safe, writing, “John Schneider’s future is uncertain if the Blue Jays are sitting home in October.”

There is no question that the Blue Jays are a talented team that has fallen short of expectations (much like San Diego and New York), but Schneider is signed through 2025 so pulling the plug on him after his first full season overseeing the Jays would be a strong reaction to the direction of the franchise.

Keep an eye on these three teams as the end of the season draws near. If the Padres and Blue Jays can squeak into the postseason, the hot seat will cool down significantly. If they, along with the Mets, scuffle and are out of the playoff picture, the offseason could get very interesting with plenty of MLB rumors surrounding them.