A common refrain in Major League Baseball is that there are just 30 manager jobs and 30 general manager jobs -- and if you get offered one of those spots, you'd better think twice before saying no.
But not all of these jobs are equally attractive, and it's possible that some primo spots could open in the weeks -- and months -- ahead as the 2026 regular season comes to a close.
One of the variables that could be in play with multiple teams, according to front office sources, is uncertainty about when the next labor agreement will be executed. "You've got owners who won't be wild about taking on another contract if they don't have to when there aren't games being played," said one highly ranked executive.
Here are some of the teams that are a part of the discussion around potential managerial and front office changes.
New York Mets
The team has performed well since Andy Green took over as interim manager, with a record of 35-34, after Carlos Mendoza was fired at the end of June. The worst-case scenario -- that the team would effectively roll over down the stretch -- hasn't occurred, with young players such as Carson Benge and Nolan McLean continuing to develop. However, the plans for Green have not changed, according to organizational sources: He will return to his work in the front office rather than continue as the club's manager going forward. (And the Mets have the option of choosing to reward Green by installing him in the currently vacant role of general manager).
Sources also indicate that while David Stearns, the team's head of baseball operations, is drawing ire from the team's fanbase -- Citi Field patrons chanted for his firing in Pete Alonso's return to New York on Monday -- he'll conduct the search for the next manager. Steve Cohen will have final say, as owner, but he won't push Stearns aside to pick his own candidate. If Stearns wants to target a prominent name, then Hall of Famers Carlos Beltran and Albert Pujols could be in play.
If Stearns opts for experience managing in the majors, then former Cubs manager David Ross -- for whom Green was a bench coach in Chicago -- could be a possible fit. Green, who has spoken about how much he learned from his time working with Ross, could be an important ally through a Mets' managerial search.
Houston Astros
The Astros parted ways with general manager Dana Brown last month after three seasons, and while there will be conversations about Brown's replacement -- and maybe even a hire -- the hierarchy is now well-established. Owner Jim Crane will largely make the baseball decisions, advised by Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell. Manager Joe Espada is in the last year of his contract, and the expectation within the industry is that this will be his last season.
If Houston is looking for a new skipper, one of the names drawing speculation is New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, who played with the Astros for a decade and was teammates with Bagwell.
Seattle Mariners
Seattle's odds for making the playoffs stand at 1.9%, and with the team nearing the end of what has been a wildly disappointing season, there are a lot of industry tremors that suggest major change is possible at the top of the front office. It'll be up to Mariners owner John Stanton, who is generally viewed more as patient than reactionary. Jerry Dipoto has been the Mariners' head of baseball operations for 11 seasons, and in that time, they have reached the postseason twice, advancing to the American League Championship Series just last fall.
It's also regarded as a fait accompli that, barring a crazy run to the postseason, Dan Wilson's tenure as Seattle's manager will end. If ownership decides to fire Dipoto, his job will immediately become one of the most coveted in the industry -- and largely because of Dipoto's work.
The Mariners seemingly have a core of strong pitching, with Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert and rookie Kade Anderson, and stars under contract, such as Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. They also play in what might be the softest division in the majors, with no powerhouse clubs in the AL West.
Pittsburgh Pirates
A year ago, some peers of Ben Cherington thought he might be in jeopardy of losing his general manager job, but Pittsburgh has clearly improved this year, as the Pirates were on the edge of the National League wild-card race for parts of this season. They'll bring back a really talented group of young players next year, including shortstop Konnor Griffin. It would be a surprise, at this point, if there is a change at general manager for the Pirates.
Boston Red Sox
In mid-June, the growing perspective within some corners of the Boston organization was that the team would move on from Craig Breslow as the head of baseball operations. But Breslow's vision of a team succeeding with pitching and defense fully manifested, and the Red Sox are closing in on a playoff berth and will likely face the Yankees in the wild-card round, again.
Manager Chad Tracy has been working under an interim tag all season, something of a head-scratcher; it may be that the two sides talked about the idea of an extension in midseason but set aside the topic for the offseason. But Boston is now expected to retain both Breslow and Tracy.
San Francisco Giants
Buster Posey's second season as the head of baseball operations has gone badly, with the team heading for its first 90-loss season in almost a decade. With three big contracts on their books -- Rafael Devers is owed $194 million over the next six seasons, Willy Adames $144 million over the next five and Matt Chapman $100 million for the next four -- the Giants might have to be creative to adjust the roster. Their farm system is at least perceived to be in better condition than it was a year ago.
A growing question within the industry, though, is how long Posey will remain in his job -- whether he has the patience, and the long-term ownership support, that he had when he took over. Posey will be eligible for Hall of Fame induction next summer.
Los Angeles Angels
John Mozeliak took over as interim general manager this summer and ran the team's business through a productive and proactive trade deadline, working with a freedom that owner Arte Moreno didn't lend to Mozeliak's predecessors. Now Moreno is selling the team to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, and the understanding of rival officials is that Mozeliak -- who had a lot of success with the Cardinals -- wants to shed the interim tag.
But that decision might have to be deferred to the winter, because it will be months before the Angels' sale to Kroenke is formally approved -- perhaps not until January. It's worth noting that Mozeliak has important support in the MLB commissioner's office.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona is contending for an NL wild-card spot, with series coming up next week against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at a time when the Diamondbacks are trying to overcome a deficit. No matter what happens, Mike Hazen, who's in the midst of a multiyear contract, is expected to continue as the team's head of baseball operations.
Torey Lovullo's status is a little more tenuous because his managerial contract is set to expire, and the two sides have agreed to discuss the situation after the season. Lovullo is highly respected within the organization for his acumen and his communication; unless either side just decides to pursue other options, the D-backs and Lovullo may agree to a new deal.
Philadelphia Phillies
Don Mattingly, the team's interim manager, is on the record as saying he'd be interested in continuing as the team's skipper beyond this year. Earlier this season, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski offered the job to Alex Cora right after Cora was fired by the Red Sox, and Dombrowski could revisit that conversation after the season ends.
The X factor in this, of course, could be how the Phillies fare in the postseason.
"I can't imagine they'd win the World Series and then fire Donny," said one rival official. Said another: "It could come down to whether they survive the first round of the playoffs."
In other organizations, there is sometimes little working symbiosis between the manager and the head of baseball operations. With the Phillies, that symbiosis is all but inevitable, no matter which direction they go in. Cora and Dombrowski are seen by rival officials as an excellent combination in how they operate, and if the Phillies retain Mattingly, he'll continue working with his son Preston, the current general manager, and Dombrowski.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers currently remain in the playoff picture, but they still may well miss the postseason for the third consecutive season, following their 2023 championship. Despite that, head of baseball operations Chris Young, who is in the middle of a multiyear contract, is regarded as safe, as is Skip Schumaker, who is nearing the end of his first year as the team's manager.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles cut ties last week with longtime executive Matt Blood, the team's vice president of player and staff development, and the way this is being interpreted in rival front offices is that Mike Elias, Baltimore's head of baseball operations, will continue in his role. Elias was hired as general manager of the Orioles in 2018.
"If they wanted sweeping front office changes," said one team president, "they'd [fire] Mike and then let the new guy come in and pick his own people. That doesn't seem to be what they're doing."
Cincinnati Reds
Following last year's playoff berth, Cincinnati contended early on this season before faltering. But league sources say that Nick Krall, the team's head of baseball operations, is on solid ground, and manager Terry Francona will go into his third year with the Reds next season.
Athletics
The A's and longtime general manager David Forst agreed to part ways at the beginning of August as Forst made it clear that he was not interested in moving to Las Vegas. According to sources, the A's are in the process of picking their next general manager -- and have spoken to a broad range of possible candidates. Former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is reportedly among those. "They've done a lot of work on this," said one MLB source. Ross Bowen, the team's vice president for ballpark development, is heavily involved in the search.