Brett's Top 10 Managers in Major League Baseball
Who would you take to lead your ball club?
Everyone always talks about players' impact, but no one gives managers the credit they deserve!
Managers can affect games in many ways, and I thought it would be worth it to shout out some of those who stand out among their peers. That being said, here are my top 10 managers heading into 2025.
Honorable Mention - Pat Murphy (Milwaukee Brewers), Alex Cora (Boston Red Sox), Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks)
10) Mike Shildt - San Diego Padres
Managerial Record = 345 - 268
Winning Percentage = .563
1x NL Manager of the Year
Starting our list off with the San Diego Padres Manager, Mike Shildt. Shildt has been in Major League Baseball since 2017. During his 7 years of being a manager for both the Cardinals and Padres he has managed to a 56% winning percentage which is solid! He also took the Manager of the Year award in 2019 with the Cardinals. San Diego has a solid roster and look poised to make another run at the playoffs in 2025. Once he earns some hardware he can move up on this list but for now he will barely slip into the top 10.
9) Stephen Vogt - Cleveland Guardians
Managerial Record = 92 - 69
Winning Percentage = .571
1x AL Manager of the Year
One season down, a career to go. Vogt has managed for all of one year and has managed to claim an American League Manager of the Year award at his first attempt at managing a ball club. Vogt was highly sought after last year by multiple teams to come and manage as he is considered to have one of the best minds in baseball. If the Guardians invest some capital into the team, Cleveland is likely to become a force to be reckoned with.
8) Bob Melvin - San Francisco Giants
Managerial Record = 1,597 - 1,507
Winning Percentage = .514
3x Manager of the Year
Winning the Manager of the Year award three times is no easy feat. Especially while managing the Athletics for two of those years. Melvin has managed five big league teams since 2003 which shows how many teams value his leadership in the dugout. He has won a World Series as a coach but never a manager. Once he finally claims that coveted title he will also jump in my personal rankings!
7) Brian Snitker - Atlanta Braves
Managerial Record = 735 - 582
Winning Percentage = .558
1x World Series champion
1x NL Manager of the Year
Snitker is similar to Roberts on this list. His GM and team ownership do a fantastic job of putting together a quality team. Only difference is Roberts has more hardware and a significantly larger winning percentage.
6) Craig Counsell - Chicago Cubs
Managerial Record = 790 - 704
Winning Percentage = .529
Counsell was rather impressive with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2015-2023. In his first year with the Cubs, he was able to manage to a 83-79 record but missed the playoffs with a winning record. Honestly, this was a decent managerial job as Chicago’s management did not spend the way fans thought they would. Their prospects didn’t pan out as much as one would have hoped for. I have no doubt Counsell will be able to manage this team to a deep playoff run and/or a World Series title once management starts to bolster their roster with more talent.
5) AJ Hinch - Detroit Tigers
Managerial Record = 877 - 793
Winning Percentage = .525
1x World Series champion
CHEATER!!!!! I had to do it. Regardless of what people think about his 2017 World Series win with the Astros, Hinch is still one of the best managers in baseball. Look at what the Tigers accomplished this year under his command. Any team would be lucky to have Hinch as their captain leading the ship, but unfortunately, his title comes with an asterisk. If the Tigers win a World Series under his watch, he will quickly move up on my list.
4) Dave Roberts - Los Angeles Dodgers
Managerial Record = 851 - 507
Winning Percentage = .627
2x World Series champion
1x NL Manager of the Year
Dave Roberts finally got his non-Covid World Series title by slaughtering the Yankees across five games in this year’s World Series. He owns the best winning percentage out of any manager on this list. I am not trying to be ignorant of his accomplishments to rank him even higher. The Dodgers spend a ton of money to provide an exceptional roster and have one of the best farm systems in baseball for development.
3) Kevin Cash - Tampa Bay Rays
Managerial Record = 819 - 699
Winning Percentage = .540
2x AL Manager of the Year
Who does more with less than Kevin Cash? The Rays consistently roll out one of the league's lowest payrolls, yet Cash has been able to make do. Imagine if the Rays actually invested in their roster just a little bit. Cash would be unstoppable and would 100% have a title to his name at this point.
2) Terry Francona - Cincinnati Reds
Managerial Record = 1,950 - 1,672
Winning Percentage = .538
2x World Series champion
3x AL Manager of the Year
After watching the Netflix documentary “The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox", I gained a lot of respect for Tito. It seems his players love to play for him, and he is one of the most respected managers in the game. Francona will be making his return to the diamond in 2025 after stepping away from the game due to health issues. If the Reds invest some money into the team, watch out, as Cincinnati can be a dark horse contender next season with Francona at the helm.
1) Bruce Bochy - Texas Rangers
Managerial Record = 2,171 - 2,185
Winning Percentage = .498
4x World Series champion
1x NL Manager of the Year
How could I not rank Bochy #1 with 4 World Series titles? Bochy has won titles with multiple teams and has succeeded at every stop where he has been the acting manager. The only place Bochy has managed and not won a title was San Diego, and I blame ownership for that, as they dramatically cut the team's payroll following the 1998 World Series run.