Major League Baseball's 30 General Managers: Who's the Best?

Knocking on the Door

4)     Kenny Williams, Chicago White Sox – Williams changes his spots more than a chameleon.  He successfully added veterans prior to the ChiSox’ World Series run in 2005 then shortly thereafter started building for the long term by adding young talent in Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Carlos Quentin, and Tyler Flowers.  Regardless of the strategy, he just wins.

5)     Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay Rays – Though Chuck Lamar’s regime deserves some credit for laying some of the groundwork, it’s Friedman who assembled the final—and most important—pieces for the Rays’ dramatic run in ’08.  His trade for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett was especially brilliant, as was his signing of Pat Burrell at a deep discount.  Don’t be shocked if Friedman’s machinations enable Tampa to hold off the resurgent Yankees in ’09.

6)     David Dombrowski, Detroit Tigers – Despite a disastrous ’08, Dombrowski’s 20-year track record speaks for itself.  He laid the foundation for the pre-strike juggernaut in Montreal, then put together a World Series winner in Florida.  And he had righted the ship in Detroit prior to last year’s debacle.  But after a winter filled with under-the-radar transactions, the Tigers should be poised to contend again in ’09.

7)     Walt Jocketty, Cincinnati Reds – Jocketty has been the Reds’ GM for under a year, however, his 13-year record with the Cardinals speaks for itself – six division titles, two National League Championships and one World Series Championship.  He’s had a tough offseason thus far, but with most of the mid-tier free agents still unsigned we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

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