Which MLB front offices, managers and teams are under the most pressure? Insiders weigh in

Here in the frozen north country, we feel more February heat from our toaster than from the sun.

But that isnt the kind of heat this column cares about right now.

The kind of heat that really matters in baseball these days is the heat being felt by the teams, front offices and managers that are under the most pressure to make 2025 the year or else.

Advertisement So who are those teams, front offices and managers? We asked that question of the 32 baseball executives, former executives, coaches and scouts who took part in our annual spring training preview survey .

Lets take a look at the teams they think are feeling the heat.

MARK SHAPIRO, ROSS ATKINS, JOHN SCHNEIDER AND THE BLUE JAYS (22 VOTES): From the day they called up Vlad Guerrero Jr.

in 2019, it feels as if the Blue Jays have been on the clock.

But six years and zero postseason wins later, this seems like the year the alarm goes off.

What are the odds they can extend Vlad before he cuts off contract talks on Tuesday and prepares to head for free agency? What happens if they cant? What are the ripple effects on Bo Bichette and the still-talented cast around them? The rest of the baseball world is intently focused on all of that.

What does it mean for the fate of a front office that feels haunted by all the stars it chased but couldnt sign? Stay tuned.

Theres a season to play.

The fan base is watching.

And that whopping vote total tells us the entire sport is riveted on every one of these plot lines and how they affect the people who run this team and the stars whose time has produced more frustration than thrills.

I dont see anybody being under more pressure than the Blue Jays, one longtime exec said.

I think theyve got a lot on the line this year.

JED HOYER, CRAIG COUNSELL AND THE CUBS (12 VOTES): Their curse-busting World Series was (gasp) nine years ago.

Their last postseason win was (what?) eight years ago.

And the Cubs are now entering their fifth season since Theo Epstein headed off to figure out the inner secrets of the pitch clock.

So one voter said this as clearly as it can be said: The Cubs have to win.

You should know that our voters like this roster.

It feels as though Hoyer, the clubs president of baseball operations, has pushed many of the right buttons.

And theres a reason Counsell is the highest-paid manager in the game.

But when youre the one team spending big money in the NL Central Thrift Shop, you need something tangible to show for it.

Will this be their time? Advertisement The Cubs, said one rival exec, feel like theyre under heavy pressure.

BRYCE HARPER, TREA TURNER AND THE PHILLIES CORE (7 VOTES): We introduced a new question in our survey this year: Which rosters or core groups are under the most pressure? The results were fascinating.

The Blue Jays players (nine votes) won that one, too.

But right behind them were the Phillies.

Its not hard to see why.

Theyre rocking the third-highest payroll in baseball.

Theyre coming off two straight postseason train wrecks.

Yet for the second straight winter, their legendary team-builder, Dave Dombrowski, has doubled down on a roster built to win.

So if this core group wants to stay together, it needs to win together.

Theyre getting older, said one voter.

Their core group of players is starting to age.

(Kyle) Schwarber and (J.T.) Realmuto are free agents at the end of the year.

I just feel a sense of urgency in a very difficult division.

JERRY DIPOTO AND THE MARINERS (7 VOTES): Lets recap the Mariners star-crossed history: 48 seasons ...

zero appearances in the World Series ...

just five trips to the postseason ...

and havent even reached a League Championship Series since 2001.

That doesnt quite make them the Cleveland Browns of baseball, but thats quite a trail of seasons that didnt end well.

Not all of that, obviously, is on their modern-day trade maestro, and current president of baseball ops, Jerry Dipoto, now entering his 10th season atop this front office.

But 130 trades into his tenure, this feels like a significant year in Dipotos life and times.

He has built possibly the best rotation in baseball.

But ownership hasnt given him the cash to build around it.

So it feels like this team is just treading water and the baseball world let us know its noticed.

The iron is hot, said one AL exec, and theyre not striking.

Advertisement Who else is feeling the heat? With all the precincts counted, lets recap the voting.

TEAMS/FRONT OFFICES/MANAGERS UNDER PRESSURE Blue Jays 22 Cubs 12 Mariners 7 Padres 5 Angels 2 Phillies 2 Yankees 1 Red Sox 1 Cardinals 1 Astros 1 Twins 1 Pirates 1 Rockies 1 MANAGERS WHO WERE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED John Schneider (Blue Jays) 3 Oliver Marmol (Cardinals) 2 Rob Thomson (Phillies) 2 Aaron Boone (Yankees) 1 Rocco Baldelli (Twins) 1 ROSTERS/CORE GROUPS UNDER PRESSURE Blue Jays 9 Phillies 7 Padres 5 Yankees 4 Orioles 4 Mariners 3 Cubs 2 Mets 2 Astros 1 Dodgers 1 Diamondbacks 1 (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic ; Photos: Cole Burston / Getty Images; Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images; Griffin Quinn / Getty Images).

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