AL Central
Chicago White Sox: The Southsiders are 748-892 since the management team of president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn took over in 2013. The team has made just two playoff appearances, and is playing .397 ball this year with a cast that was supposed to walk away with the AL Central title.
Beyond that, both Williams and Hahn are working on open contracts. Combine that with the fact that Chicago’s farm system was recently ranked a lackluster 20th, and you have perhaps the most vulnerable leadership team in the game this winter.
Cleveland Guardians: Team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Michael Chernoff have been running operations for team owner Larry Dolan since 2016, when Cleveland made it to Game 7 of the World Series.
Although 2023 has been a disappointment, Antonetti and Chernoff can still point to at least five postseason trips (assuming they don’t make it this year) in eight tries. Change here would be a surprise.
Detroit Tigers: Scott Harris was hired away from San Francisco prior to this season, so he has a grace period. Beyond that, the Tigers have probably exceeded expectations, standing a plausible third in the AL Central. Unless there are underlying relationship problems (unlikely), there will be no change in Detroit.
Kansas City Royals: J.J. Picollo is in his second season as general manager for new owner John Sherman. GMs usually get more than two years to show what they can do, so Picollo is likely safe. But there is room for doubt. Sherman has no track record to indicate whether he will be patient or impatient with his management team. Beyond that, the Royals’ farm system ranks 29th.
Combine that with the team’s desultory 2023 showing and you get just enough doubt in the future of Picollo to make change, while still unlikely, within the realm of possibility.
Minnesota Twins: Team president Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine are both working under contracts that expire in 2024. They needed a big season and with the AL Central championship within reach they’re getting one good enough to probably win extensions.