Managers

New MLB Managers for 2024 

by Drew Duffy 6/17/23

This is a way too early look at some potential names that should be looking into managerial gigs for the 2024 season. While not even at the All-Star Break, some of these names below are going to earn themselves interviews with teams if they want them. There is still a ton to be sorted out over the next five or six months, with teams deciding on going their separate ways with managers and different team trajectories. Here are my initial thoughts:

Buck Britton has risen up the ranks in the Orioles organization over the past five seasons. He began his tenure in High A Delmarva and has come up all the way to AAA Norfolk. The Tides are off to their best start in history and are currently the best team in the International League. While the success of the team can undoubtedly be attributed to their recent success of draft picks, some of the credit should also go to Britton. He is setting himself up for the potential to break into the Major Leagues in some capacity in the very near future, with the potential of becoming the bench boss of a major league club. Still only 36, players rave about the ways that Britton captivates a team. He is able to relate to many players and makes the environment fun around the clubhouse, being characterized as a “player’s manager”, which has been the common trend from managers in the big leagues. 

Potential Fits:

Orioles - current manager Brandon Hyde is only under contract until the end of this season but the Orioles are having one of their best in recent memory, would they ditch Hyde after such a successful season?. Could Buck make the next step up and continue with the young core of guys that he has risen the ranks with over the past five seasons? It would be an incredible story if so…

Nationals - a young team that has underperformed ever since their 2019 championship season. Davey Martinez may not make it to 2024 Spring Training, maybe Buck gets the nod here?

Matt Blake has been rumored for a managerial spot since the 2021 off-season. While the Yankees have not captured the elusive World Series recently, Blake’s importance and prowess as their pitching coach has been apparent. The Yankees have ranked 6th in ERA in 2021, 3rd in 2022, and are currently the 4th lowest in 2023. Obviously, Blake has earned his reputation as a “pitching guru” and it will be interesting to see if he ever leaves the Bronx for a managerial spot. The Yankees love him there and it seems as though he loves the Yankees, but maybe a promotion elsewhere could be in the cards. 

Potential Fits:

Giants - if the Giants bounce Gabe Kapler, Matt Blake should be one of their top priorities. The Giants pitching staff has a top 15 ERA with some arms to build upon in the system. The daunting NL West will be hard to conquer, though with a good off-season and a change at the helm, the Giants may be able to put the pieces together and create a sustained playoff window in the near future. 

Mariners - the Mariners believe they have set a foundation for success in the coming years. Scott Servais has done a fine job with the Mariners in bringing them back into postseason relevance. Their current trajectory shows a little bit of uncertainty about their playoff chances in the competitive AL West. It may be a good time for a new, youthful voice in the Emerald City. 

Donnie Ecker may be able to capitalize when his stock is the highest following the 2023 season as the Rangers “offensive coordinator”. Ecker and the Rangers are enjoying great success at the plate, as they are currently the best offensive team in baseball. Ecker has been with the club since 2022 and is undoubtedly learning a ton under new manager Bruce Bochy. Ecker’s chance to manage his own club will not be in Arlington, but he should have plenty of interest from other teams around the league. 

Potential Fits

Giants - Ecker fits in well with the Giants team, as he was recently a hitting coach with the organization and has an established relationship with President of Baseball Ops, Farhan Zaidi. As I mentioned above with Matt Blake, Gabe Kapler may be seeing his tenure coming to a close and there really may be no better replacement than Ecker if he wants the job. (Keep an eye out for the managerial situation in Detroit as well, I do not think Scott Harris will let go of AJ Hinch, but Ecker and Harris had some overlap in San Francisco, so who knows…)

Orioles - Again, if Brandon Hyde gets let go after this season I would be surprised, and if Buck Britton is not his replacement I would be even more surprised. But, crazier things have happened. Ecker fits the mold for what GM Mike Elias would be looking for in a potential manager: young, smart, and accomplished. Ecker would be a great fit for the Orioles young core, especially with the influx of position players they are bringing up to the big leagues. He would be a great fit here in my opinion. 

Don Kelly is currently the bench coach for the surprisingly good Pittsburgh Pirates. Kelly has spent time with Houston as their first base coach and now the Pirates. He is a little older than the other names on this list at 43, though he should be primed to take over an empty managerial seat if there is an opening. Kelly brings perspective as a former major league utility man but might be content staying in Pittsburgh, his wife’s hometown and close to his hometown as well. 

Potential Fits 

Pirates - Kelly could take over for Derek Shelton, who has had an unimpressive tenure as Pirates manager, but just signed an extension for 2024. If Kelly wants to wait for maybe the best personal fit, it may have to come following next season. 

Rockies - Bud Black’s contract will expire after the 2024 season, meaning that again Kelly would have to wait until the following season to potentially find the top role for a team. Bud Black, 65, may be on the way out soon and a new, younger voice may need to be brought in to ignite a franchise that has been mostly mediocre for the past few seasons. 

Again, the uncertainty that lies ahead of the rest of the season remains to be seen. These are just some initial thoughts on potential candidates and some ideal roles that they could fit into, it will be interesting to see how many new faces become managers for the 2024 season. I think that all of these men listed above have earned their right to interview for head jobs around the league and capitalize on their successes. 

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Thanks for reading! Leave your thoughts as always.