MLB Trade Rumors: 4 GMs Whose Jobs Hinge on the 2011 Trade Deadline
It may be one of the toughest jobs in sports.
The General Manager picks the players.
He picks the manager.
Just keeping up with contracts and luxury taxes and dealing with agents is enough to drive a man crazy.
When things are going well, the manager is a genius or the players are phenomenal.
If the team is losing, then the GM is an idiot and should be fired.
Here are five GMs who could face the unemployment line if their teams are much improved after the trade deadline.
Doug Melvin: Brewers
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The Brewers faithful have been more than patient.
First, the fall guy was Ned Yost. He had to be the reason the team couldn't get over the hump.
Then, it was Ken Macha. OK, maybe Macha created his own problems, but I digress.
The bottom line on Melvin is, he's had ample time to build a winner. Maybe this year, he's done it. We're still waiting for this year's team to get completely healthy and start to roll.
But he emptied out the farm system to bring in Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke. Both have shown flashes of brilliance, but the reality is, they are good pitchers with a really bad defense behind them.
If the Brewers can get hot and things start to click, Melvin is probably looking at a contract extension. If not, then he may not make it through next year, which is the last year of his contract.
Jim Hendry: Cubs
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Short of signing Albert Pujols and making a playoff run, Jim Hendry is playing out the string in Chicago.
Some say it would be a big mistake to get rid of Hendry. The team has had three post season appearances during his tenure.
The fact remains, though, that the Cubs are a large market team. There's no reason for this to be such a woeful team.
It stands to reason that a team with the necessary resources should be able to field a consistant winner.
New Cubs ownership may be thinking the same thing.
Tony Reagins: Angels
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This one is a well worn tale.
A team has a charismatic manager who has lots of pull with ownership.
Owners with deep pockets expect a huge return on investment.
A franchise without a history of success, wins five division titles and a World Series in the decade from 2000 to 2009.
A third place finish in 2009 and some questionable trades put the GM is curious light.
If the Angels finish 3rd again, Reagin will probably take the fall, even though he's done a good job.
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Brian Cashman: Yankees
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The man is in an impossible position.
He works for owners with huge expectations.
His job is to keep the most prestigious franchise in team sports history at the top of their very tough division and make the playoffs every year, with a World Series win expected.
The roster he has has gotten old and two players in particular, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada are playing well below expectations.
Add the fact that Cashman has no PR skills and has no problem with taking his older stars to task in the media.
Like Chicago and Los Angeles, the New York franchise should always be at or near the top of their league.
Cashman had a poor winter, failing to sign a top line pitcher. The team is having to use Bartolo Colon in the rotation. Only a big splash at the trade deadline and a big second half will save Cashman's job.
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