Here in the frozen Northland we feel more February heat of our toaster than of the sun. But that is not the kind of heat that this column now gives.
The kind of heat that is really important in baseball nowadays is the heat that is felt by the teams, front offices and managers who are under the most pressure to make 2025 the year – or different.
So who are those teams, front offices and managers? We asked that question from the 32 baseball managers, former managers, coaches and scouts who participated in our annual Spring Training Preview Survey. Let’s look at the teams they think they feel the heat.
Mark Shapiro, Ross Atkins, John Schneider and the Blue Jays (22 votes): From the day she was Vlad Guerrero Jr. In 2019 it called, it feels like the Blue Jays have been on the clock. But six years and zero late season wins later, this seems the year that the alarm goes off.
What are the chance that they can extend Vlad before cutting contract discussions on Tuesday and preparing for a free agency? What happens if they can’t do that? What are the wrinkle effects on Bo Bichette and the still talented cast around them? The rest of the baseball world is attentively aimed at this.
What does it mean for the fate of a front office that feels chased by all the stars that chases it but could not sign? Stay informed. There is a season to play. The fan base looks. And that is no less than totally tells us that the entire sport has sounded on each of these plot lines – and how they influence the people who run this team and the stars whose time has yielded more frustration than tension.
“I don’t see anyone busy among the Blue Jays anymore,” said an old exec. “I think they are at stake a lot this year.”
How will the Blue Jays-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Saga End? (Dan Hamilton / Imagn Images)
Jed Hoyer, Craig Counselell and the Cubs (12 votes): Their curse-busting world series was nine years ago (panting). Their last victory after the season was (what?) Eight years ago. And the Cubs have now entered their fifth season since Theo Epstein left to find out the inner secrets of the pitch clock. So a voter said this as clearly as it is said: “The Cubs must win.”
You must know that our voters like. It feels like Hoyer, the president of the club of baseball operations, has driven many of the right buttons. And there is a reason that Counselell is the best paid manager in the game. But if you are one team that spends a lot of money in the NL Central Thrift Shop, you need something tangible to show it. Will this be their time?
“The Cubs,” said a rival exec, “the feeling that they are under heavy pressure.”
Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and the core of the Phillies (7 votes): This year we have introduced a new question in our survey: which gratings – or core groups – are the most busy? The results were fascinating.
The Blue Jays players (nine voices) also won them. But just behind them were the Phillies. It is not difficult to see why.
They rock the second highest payroll in baseball. They come from two consecutive train wrecks after the season. But for the second consecutive winter, their legendary team builder, Dave Dombrowski, doubled on a schedule to win. So if this core group wants to stay together, it must win together.
“They are getting older,” said a voter. “Their core group of players is starting to age. (Kyle) Schwarber and (JT) RealMuto are free agents at the end of the year. I just feel a sense of urgency in a very difficult distribution. ‘
Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners (7 votes): Let’s summarize the stars of the Mariners: 48 seasons … Zero performances in the World Series … Only five trips to the late season … and since 2001 have not even reached a League Championship series. That does not entirely make them the Cleveland Browns of baseball, but that is quite a trace of seasons that did not end well.
That is of course not all on their modern trading maestro and the current president of Baseball Ops, Jerry Dipoto, who now enters his 10th season on top of this Front Office. But 130 acts in his term of office, this feels like a considerable year in life and the times of Dipoto.
He may have built the best rotation in baseball. But ownership did not give him the money to build around it. So it feels like this team is just water – and the baseball world lets us know that it is being noticed.
“The iron is hot,” said an al -exec, “and they are not striking.”
Who else feels the heat?
The Padres of AJ Prailer belonged to the clubs chosen by the voters. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty images)
Let us, with all districts counted, summarize voting.
Teams/front offices/managers under pressure
Blue Jays – 22
Cubs – 12
Mariners – 7
Padres – 5
Angels – 2
Phillies – 2
Yankees – 1
Red Sox – 1
Cardinals – 1
Astros – 1
Gemini – 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
Schedules/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 / Athletics; Photos: Cole Burston / Getty images; Brandon Sloter / Image of Sport / Getty images; Griffin Quinn / Getty images)