MLB managerial openings: Ranking the five jobs changing hands this off-season

In an off-season where nearly one-fifth of Major League Baseball’s managerial jobs came open, aspiring managers are in a rare position: Possibly having the choice of which jobs to pursue.

With front-office influence only increasing, managers are more marginalized than their predecessors, and perceived to be more fungible. This autumn, however, they hold a few more cards with five jobs opening up.

So which situations are most desirable? We rank the five vacancies:

1. Washington Nationals

Sure, call us masochists. The franchise that’s churned through six managers in 13 seasons – five in 10 years – would seem like the last place any self-respecting baseball man would turn. And the Nationals’ last three managers – Davey Johnson, Matt Williams and Dusty Baker – all ended up jobless despite taking the club to the playoffs, though the circumstances of their departures vary wildly.

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Still, even with a unique organizational culture at the highest level – to say the least – you gotta have the horses to win. And for at least one more season, the Nationals’ barn is overflowing. They ranked fourth in the National League in runs scored, second in ERA and showcased their enviable organizational depth in a 97-win season in which Bryce Harper, Adam Eaton, Trea Turner and Jayson Werth all missed significant time due to injuries.

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Sure, Harper probably walks after next year. The bigger key is the retaining of GM Mike Rizzo, who has taken the public bullets during various episodes of dysfunction. He and his staff are largely responsible for the aforementioned depth; his departure would likely be the biggest threat to the organization’s continuity.

But right now, this is a ready-made World Series club – and such a job doesn’t come open often.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

Seems a little aggressive? Well, the Phillies have two things going for them: Empty pockets and a virtually blank slate. They have just $25.5 million committed beyond 2018 – to outfielder Odubel Herrera – a relatively loaded farm system and, for now, low expectations.

As they’ve rebuilt, the Phillies have presumably been stuffing their pockets with cash: They’re in the second year of a 25-year, $2.5 billion TV deal. And they have no choice but to spend big, soon. After drawing 3.5 million fans in 2012, 2017 marked their third consecutive year under the 2 million mark in attendance.

A couple prizes from the vaunted free agent class of 2018 would make any manager smarter.

3. Boston Red Sox

So, what’s the upside here? Boston’s previous manager, John Farrell, won a World Series in 2013 and consecutive division titles in 2016-17. For that he lost his job.

Meanwhile, barring an opt-out, the club has $157 million invested in lefty David Price, who was not a viable starting pitcher this year due to a balky elbow. Cy Young Award candidate Chris Sale’s acquisition emptied much of the farm system.

A young core of position players – Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers, most notably – will keep the major league product strong. Yet if you’re a first-time manager like Alex Cora, or a rebound guy like Brad Ausmus, the chance to win now will be accompanied by the superfluous headaches that managing in the Hub bring.

It certainly beats not working, at least.

4. Detroit Tigers

There’s a lot to like about this gig: The rebuild is obvious. The stacking of young assets already began in the summer. And the low expectations will buy plenty of space.

Still, for new manager Ron Gardenhire, this figures to be a slog. The Tigers will be retreating for a good while, as aging assets such as Miguel Cabrera (still due $184 million) and Jordan Zimmermann ($74 million) will crimp the payroll. If Gardenhire sticks long enough to see the rebuild through and pilot a contending team, great. But it seems likely Gardenhire’s Detroit legacy will largely be the impact he had on an emerging young core.

5. New York Mets

The new guy will find himself in a tight spot. The Nationals have at least one potentially dominant season in them. The Atlanta Braves are bursting with top prospects. And the Phillies won’t get any worse.

So just where do the Mets fit in in the NL East, three seasons removed from a World Series appearance?

The new manager will inherit a 92-loss team, but should get three seasons from Jacob de Grom, and four from Noah Syndergaard. (Along with one season of Matt Harvey, whatever that might look like). And there’s no payroll commitments beyond 2020.

But the farm system, after years of steady growth, has been compromised by graduations and trades, and now ranks in the middle of the pack. Then there’s the ownership question: Will the Wilpons spend to keep a good thing going in Queens?

It’s certainly not a bad gig. But it also seems like the Mets will be stuck in no man’s land, barring a drastic change of course.

Gallery: MLB's managerial carousel