MLB Power Rankings: Analyzing all 30 MLB managers as the regular season winds down

Joe Rivera

MLB Power Rankings: Analyzing all 30 MLB managers as the regular season winds down image

The manager is dead. Long live the manager.

In 2019 baseball, it's very hard to tell where front office meddling ends and a manager's job begins. A lot of what managers do now is predicated on, well, managing — maybe not the lineup, but personalities, media and expectations. 

So it's very hard to grade managers on a scale in baseball now, but there's always something there that tells you the difference between a good manager and an meh one. They don't deserve all the blame, as always, but they also deserve more credit than some give.

MORE: Updated magic numbers, standings and more

So, with the last regular season SN MLB Power Rankings here, we include a look at every manager in baseball and give a quick rundown of what the future holds. 

This is your last chance — so do not @ me.

1. Astros

Previous: 2

The Astros retake the top spot and A.J. Hinch is a big part of that.

Of course, the Astros are a deep team, but Hinch has pushed all the right buttons during his Houston tenure and is just gutsy enough to not be afraid to experiment with the lineup and roster. Maybe some of that is front-office induced, but there's no way of truly telling that difference.

Hinch is among the best managers in baseball and has restored the Astros as a perennial championship squad. His ability to manage by feel and stats is impeccable, and likely not able to be replicated by many around the sport.

2. Yankees

Previous: 1

Aaron Boone got a lot of flak in 2018 for the way the team went out — even amidst an 100-win season — and he's gotten little to no credit for a 2019 season that may see the Yankees win 105 games; a season in which they've been handed devastating knockout punch after knockout punch.

Payroll aside, Boone should get serious consideration for AL Manager of the Year this season. He's done a tremendous job of getting through injury issues with the team, and has rectified his bullpen management, an issue that was somewhat apparent in 2018. Boone has a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year, so don't be surprised if that gets ripped up and he gets an entirely new deal following the 2019 season.

3. Dodgers

Previous: 3

It seems as though the Dodgers are going through a late-season malaise, and that's fine. They have the division locked up and are looking big picture: It's a risky game to play, trusting your squad to turn that switch back on, but if there's anyone who has the pulse of his team better than Dave Roberts, it's tough to see.

Here's a fun fact: No Dodgers manager in franchise history has managed the team to four straight 90-plus win seasons. None. Not Tommy Lasorda, not Walter Alston, not Leo Durocher. Isn't that nuts?

Roberts has managed this team to four straight division crowns, three NLCS appearances and two straight World Series appearances in his first four seasons. This is the season to show that Roberts and Dodgers can get over that hump and win it all. They're probably the best team in the NL again, but can they be the best team in baseball? With a contract that lasts through 2022, he might get more than one opportunity at winning the last game of the season.

4. Braves

Previous: 4

The Braves are 22-8 over their past 30 games and are going to moonwalk to a division title. Any doubts over Brian Snitker are probably out the window now.

Snitker has the support of current Braves players — and former Braves legends, apparently — and at this rate, will likely get his 2021 option picked up as soon as the season is over, if not get an extension. With the way the Braves fought through a tough start, injuries and a mediocre bullpen, he's ascending towards the list of best managers in the NL.

5. Twins

Previous: 5

The Twins have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball this season, and Rocco Baldelli has been a big part of that.

The first-year manager has seemingly pushed all the right buttons as the Twins look ready to win their first division title since 2010, during the Ron Gardenhire era. It's also the first time since then that they've won more than 90 games

This roster is a bit different from the Paul Molitor years, but not tremendously. But given that Baldelli has gotten the most out of these young Twins means he'll likely take home the AL Manager of the Year honors. It'll be close, though.

6. Athletics

Previous: 6

Bob Melvin and his second-half magic nonsense is really weird, man. The reigning, defending SN AL Manager of the Year has his fourth 90-plus win season with the Athletics, and is only the second manager in franchise history to reach that mark. Some other guy by the name of Connie Mack is the only other one to do it.

Much like the next team on this list, regardless of how this season ends, 2020 should be a make-or-break year for Oakland, and they have the right guy on the bench to do it.

7. Rays

Previous: 9

What else is there to say about Kevin Cash? Yes, analytics play a massive part in what the Rays do — every team, really — but Cash has proven time and time again that he's no fluke. 

Even with the devastating injuries the Rays have dealt with this season (Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell chief among them), Cash still has the Rays in position to make a playoff run in a tough division and with young players up and down the roster.

Really, he's among the elite skippers in baseball today after showing his mettle in 2019. Kudos to Cash. With a another five years left on his contract — he was extended after the 2018 season — there's no reason to think he can't replicate this kind of success in 2020 and beyond, regardless of how 2019 ends for Tampa Bay. 

MORE: Rays of hope: Tampa Bay is good in 2019, but the future is great

8. Cardinals

Previous: 7

Mike Shildt has navigated a tough division and has the Cards in first place. Jack Flaherty has emerged as a legit Cy Young candidate, and despite an offense that hasn't really been there all season St. Louis is poised to grab a playoff spot unless a major collapse happens in the coming weeks.

With Shildt under contract for the next two seasons at minimum, he's proving to be a decent manager, but he still has a ways to go to win the hearts of Cardinals fans — if that sort of thing matters.

FAGAN: Jack Flaherty emerging as potential NL Cy Young candidate

9. Nationals

Previous: 8

Things were looking real, real bleak for Dave Martinez after the first few months of the season, but as with most teams the on-field performance goes beyond the manager.

The Nats' bullpen was the worst in baseball for a long time. From March through May, Washington's 'pen had a 6.86 ERA, more than a run higher than the next worst team (Baltimore at 5.37 ERA). After rebuilding the bullpen at the trade deadline, their ERA is down to 5.80! A run better is a run better, after all.

Martinez has leaned on his starting pitching, as the bullpen has tossed the second fewest innings of any team in baseball since Aug. 1, which is a good thing. Stephen Strasburg is approaching the magical 200-inning mark, Patrick Corbin has been a workhorse and Max Scherzer has been Scherzer, despite dealing with some injuries.

Martinez turned around his managing narrative quickly — but there will still be questions should the Nats make the postseason and fail to advance again.

10. Cubs

Previous: 10

With the Cubs deciding not to extend Joe Maddon before the 2019 season — apparently this was a "prove it" year for Maddon — it feels like the clock is ticking on his tenure on the North Side. There has been zilch in the way of contract extension talk from either the front office or Maddon, and that could raise some flags.

It's known that managers dislike managing under one-year contracts, and that's a fair concern to have. Maddon has managed the Cubs to the NLCS in three of his four seasons as Cubbies skipper, which certainly seems like a veritable success. He's easily been the best Cubs manager in decades, if not, ever.

However, when expectations are multiple championships and not just one, there's cause for hesitation on a new deal. There's something about Maddon's shtick that seems to have grown tiresome for the Cubs and their fans. It's like a 50/50 split in the fan base right now, if that's any validation.

If the Cubs miss out on a championship this season, though, it goes way beyond Maddon. They're not a bad team — evident by their top 10 spot here — but there's something missing in the recipe. Between Chicago's poor road performance this season (31-44 away from Wrigley in 2019) and a roster that just seems to be underachieving when it comes to the win column, the man who helped the Cubs end the curse of the billy goat could be on his way out this winter.

Should he be back? Probably, when you consider his success. Will he? We'll find out in a few months.

Middle of the pack

11. Brewers

Previous: 14

Craig Counsell has fully embraced some of the absurdities of new-age managing, and for that he's going to have a longer shelf life as Milwaukee's manager. This season likely won't result in a championship for the Crew. But with the way Counsell has navigated his team through injuries (and a thin pitching staff), the duration of the season is admirable.

12. Indians

Previous: 11

Terry Francona is entering unchartered territory for him. He's got the comfort of a contract through 2022, but who knows what Cleveland's window is in 2020 and beyond? The Indians have shown that they can still compete under his watch, but if they skimp out during free agency again, expect a result similar to this season.

13. Mets

Previous: 15

Mickey Callaway is probably the most perplexing figure in baseball. He's done himself no favors as Mets manager, but if the team continues to play hard for him in search of a wild card spot, the case can be made to bring him back for another season. There is also the complexity that he wasn't Brodie Van Wagenen's hire, which could also lead to his ousting.

14. Red Sox

Previous: 13

Boston jettisoning Dave Dombrowski was a pretty surprising move. The Sox would be really, really dumb to move on from Alex Cora this offseason, though. He should be safe for 2020 and beyond.

15. Phillies

Previous: 12

Philadelphia's issues in 2019 go way, way beyond Gabe Kapler, but it feels like a 50/50 proposition whether he returns in 2020. With the window open now, the Phillies are going to have to take a long, hard look to be sure Kapler is the guy to win a World Series as Phillies skipper. By the way, Charlie Manuel breathing down Kapler's neck doesn't exactly feel like a vote of confidence.

16. Diamondbacks

Previous: 16

After trading Paul Goldschmidt before the season and Zack Greinke at the deadline, expectations were pretty low for Arizona this year. The Diamondbacks hung in there, though, and the contract extension the front office gave Torey Lovullo prior to the 2019 season seems to have been a wise decision. Lovullo is going to get another shot in 2020 with a more complete squad.

17. Rangers

Previous: 18

PECOTA projected the Rangers to win 70 games this year, a number they've surpassed. A lot of that credit goes to Chris Woodward, who has won over the hearts of Rangers fans and players alike this season, his first as a major league manager.

18. Giants

Previous: 18

The Giants fooled themselves into thinking they could contend this year, and they did it to show some respect to Bruce Bochy. With Bochy out as San Francisco manager after this season, keep an eye on Hensley Meulens and Raul Ibañez as potential replacements.

19. Reds

Previous: 21

David Bell has done a very good job with the Reds in 2019, his first as Cincy manager. Despite some early season bullpen landmines, they've been a pesky squad and Bell has kept them on the straight and narrow. He's not going anywhere.

20. Angels

Previous: 20

Brad Ausmus' first season in L.A. has been an eventful one, to say the least. The Angels' biggest issue isn't Ausmus, it's whoever's on the mound.

Bottom third

21. Padres

Previous: 19

Andy Green's contract runs through 2021, and for a younger team continuity in management can be a good thing. The Padres are 13 games under .500 in the second half, but Green's earned the opportunity for another crack at it with this squad.

22. Rockies

Previous: 26

Bud Black, one of the most respected baseball dudes around the sport, got himself a shiny new contract before the 2019 season. He's seemingly safe, but Colorado's future and window remain a bit murky.

23. White Sox

Previous: 24

Rick Renteria received a contract extension prior to the 2019 season, so he'll get the opportunity to see this thing through on the South Side — a luxury he wasn't afforded on the North Side.

24. Blue Jays

Previous: 22

Charlie Montoyo is probably the safest manager on this list. Toronto didn't have particularly high expectations in 2019 — aside from seeing the youth develop — and is in the final stages of getting ready to compete again. We've seen lots of good from the youngsters north of the border, and Montoyo deserves a bit of credit for that.

25. Mariners

Previous: 25

Scott Servais had the Mariners firing on all cylinders — for the first 18 games of the season. It's been nothing but bad since, with the M's heading for a full-blown rebuild. He was given a multi-year contract extension in the middle of 2018, so he'll likely get the opportunity to see this thing through with Seattle. 

26. Pirates

Previous:

It wasn't long ago when Clint Hurdle signed a four-year contract extension that'll keep him in the Steel City through 2021. This year has gone from being good to really bad for the Pirates, with many injuries along the way. Hurdle has come under fire a lot as Pittsburgh's manager, but it's hard to see a world where he's out two years before his current deal is up.

27. Marlins

Previous: 27

If Don Mattingly is going to go, expect a "mutually decided to part ways" type of end in Miami. There's a really awkward situation happening there with Derek Jeter and the rebuild, and Mattingly doesn't have a contract beyond 2019. 

28. Royals

Previous: 29

It certainly feels like it's coming to an end for Ned Yost in Kansas City, especially with such uncertainty surrounding the team's overall future roster, a new owner and more. He's managing out a one-year deal, so don't be surprised to see a new skipper on the bench for the Royals next season.

29. Orioles

Previous: 28

It has been a long, long debut for Brandon Hyde as Orioles manager. From being doused after his first win to almost getting punches rained down on him, he's seen it all in his first season. It's hard to see him as a one-and-done for Baltimore, though.

30. Tigers

Previous: 30

Ron Gardenhire has one more year left on his contract. He's 61 and the Tigers are in the middle of a rebuild. He'll be back for 2020, most likely. But beyond that, who knows? But however bad the Tigers have been this year, it's not on Gardenhire.

Joe Rivera