Right here within the frozen north nation, we really feel extra February warmth from our toaster than from the solar. However that isn’t the type of warmth this column cares about proper now.
The type of warmth that actually issues in baseball nowadays is the warmth being felt by the groups, entrance places of work and managers which can be below probably the most stress to make 2025 the 12 months — or else.
So who’re these groups, entrance places of work and managers? We requested that query of the 32 baseball executives, former executives, coaches and scouts who took half in our annual spring coaching preview survey. Let’s check out the groups they assume are feeling the warmth.
MARK SHAPIRO, ROSS ATKINS, JOHN SCHNEIDER AND THE BLUE JAYS (22 VOTES): From the day they referred to as up Vlad Guerrero Jr. in 2019, it feels as if the Blue Jays have been on the clock. However six years and nil postseason wins later, this looks as if the 12 months the alarm goes off.
What are the chances they will lengthen Vlad earlier than he cuts off contract talks on Tuesday and prepares to go free of charge company? What occurs if they will’t? What are the ripple results on Bo Bichette and the still-talented solid round them? The remainder of the baseball world is intently centered on all of that.
What does it imply for the destiny of a entrance workplace that feels haunted by all the celebrities it chased however couldn’t signal? Keep tuned. There’s a season to play. The fan base is watching. And that whopping vote whole tells us your complete sport is riveted on each certainly one of these plot traces — and the way they have an effect on the individuals who run this crew and the celebrities whose time has produced extra frustration than thrills.
“I don’t see anyone being below extra stress than the Blue Jays,” one longtime exec mentioned. “I feel they’ve acquired loads on the road this 12 months.”
How will the Blue Jays-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. saga finish? (Dan Hamilton / Imagn Photographs)
JED HOYER, CRAIG COUNSELL AND THE CUBS (12 VOTES): Their curse-busting World Collection was (gasp) 9 years in the past. Their final postseason win was (what?) eight years in the past. And the Cubs are actually coming into their fifth season since Theo Epstein headed off to determine the interior secrets and techniques of the pitch clock. So one voter mentioned this as clearly as it may be mentioned: “The Cubs need to win.”
It is best to know that our voters like this roster. It feels as if Hoyer, the membership’s president of baseball operations, has pushed lots of the proper buttons. And there’s a motive Counsell is the highest-paid supervisor within the recreation. However whenever you’re the one crew spending large cash within the NL Central Thrift Store, you want one thing tangible to point out for it. Will this be their time?
“The Cubs,” mentioned one rival exec, “really feel like they’re below heavy stress.”
BRYCE HARPER, TREA TURNER AND THE PHILLIES’ CORE (7 VOTES): We launched a brand new query in our survey this 12 months: Which rosters — or core teams — are below probably the most stress? The outcomes had been fascinating.
The Blue Jays gamers (9 votes) received that one, too. However proper behind them had been the Phillies. It’s not onerous to see why.
They’re rocking the third-highest payroll in baseball. They’re coming off two straight postseason practice wrecks. But for the second straight winter, their legendary team-builder, Dave Dombrowski, has doubled down on a roster constructed to win. So if this core group desires to remain collectively, it must win collectively.
“They’re getting older,” mentioned one voter. “Their core group of gamers is beginning to age. (Kyle) Schwarber and (J.T.) Realmuto are free brokers on the finish of the 12 months. I simply really feel a way of urgency in a really tough division.”
JERRY DIPOTO AND THE MARINERS (7 VOTES): Let’s recap the Mariners’ star-crossed historical past: 48 seasons … zero appearances within the World Collection … simply 5 journeys to the postseason … and haven’t even reached a League Championship Collection since 2001. That doesn’t fairly make them the Cleveland Browns of baseball, however that’s fairly a path of seasons that didn’t finish effectively.
Not all of that, clearly, is on their modern-day commerce maestro, and present president of baseball ops, Jerry Dipoto, now coming into his tenth season atop this entrance workplace. However 130 trades into his tenure, this appears like a major 12 months in Dipoto’s life and instances.
He has constructed probably the very best rotation in baseball. However possession hasn’t given him the money to construct round it. So it appears like this crew is simply treading water — and the baseball world tell us it’s seen.
“The iron is scorching,” mentioned one AL exec, “and so they’re not putting.”
Who else is feeling the warmth?
A.J. Preller’s Padres had been among the many golf equipment singled out by voters. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Photographs)
With all of the precincts counted, let’s recap the voting.
TEAMS/FRONT OFFICES/MANAGERS UNDER PRESSURE
Blue Jays — 22
Cubs — 12
Mariners — 7
Padres — 5
Angels — 2
Phillies — 2
Yankees — 1
Purple Sox — 1
Cardinals — 1
Astros — 1
Twins — 1
Pirates — 1
Rockies — 1
MANAGERS WHO WERE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED
John Schneider (Blue Jays) — 3
Oliver Marmol (Cardinals) — 2
Rob Thomson (Phillies) — 2
Aaron Boone (Yankees) — 1
Rocco Baldelli (Twins) — 1
ROSTERS/CORE GROUPS UNDER PRESSURE
Blue Jays — 9
Phillies — 7
Padres — 5
Yankees — 4
Orioles — 4
Mariners — 3
Cubs — 2
Mets — 2
Astros — 1
Dodgers — 1
Diamondbacks — 1
(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Pictures: Cole Burston / Getty Photographs; Brandon Sloter / Picture Of Sport / Getty Photographs; Griffin Quinn / Getty Photographs)