MLB Trade Rumors: 10 GMs Who Need Great Deadline Deals to Avoid Being Fired

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is a trying time for many general managers in Major League Baseball. With cellphones, PDAs, Blackberries, Androids and whatever other portable devices they carry, they also carry the weight of the rest of the season for their team on their shoulders.

Former Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers GM John Hart noted on MLB Network that he memorized the numbers of certain journalists so he could ignore their calls when they were inquiring about possible deadline deals.

Many of the trade rumors mentioned before the actual deadline are exactly that—rumors fueled by speculation. Journalists, publications and media outlets alike are all searching for the latest information they can find. In reality, many GMs go into stealth mode during this time of year, protecting their privacy with great care so that their hands aren't tipped with respect to which players are of interest to them.

But what also comes into play for many teams is that trade deadline deals can also spell doom and gloom for a GM. In 1990, Boston Red Sox GM Lou Gorman traded prospect Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for relief pitcher Larry Andersen, who Gorman felt would help the Red Sox in their playoff push. Andersen was gone the following season, and the trade is considered one of the most lopsided trades in history.

Former New York Mets GM Steve Phillips was vilified for trading for Mo Vaughn in 2001 and also for attempting to trade young shortstop Jose Reyes to the Cleveland Indians in the deal that brought aging second baseman Roberto Alomar to New York. The combination of bad deals helped lead Phillips out of New York eventually, in June 2003.

So, as the trade deadline looms, which current MLB general managers need to make solid moves in order to keep their jobs? Bleacher Report will take a look at 10 GMs whose jobs could be in jeopardy based on moves made in the next few weeks.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

1. Tony Reagins: Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels general manager Tony Reagins took over for Bill Stoneman in October 2007 and immediately put his own mark on the team, signing center fielder Torii Hunter to a five-year, $90 million contract and acquiring first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves for Casey Kotchman the following July.

However, following last season during which the Angels finished two games below .500 and finishing third in the AL West, Reagins was heavily criticized for his inability to upgrade the team during the offseason—failing to sign free agents Adrian Beltre, Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee.

The one major move made—acquiring Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera—was widely panned, with critics citing the overblown contract of Wells (four years, $86 million).

Now, with the Halos three games behind the Texas Rangers in the race for the AL West, all eyes will be on Reagins as the trade deadline looms. Reagins has shown a propensity to make deals during his tenure, but with the acquisitions of Dan Haren and Alberto Callaspo last season, the farm system was depleted, leaving Reagins with few options in terms of top-tier minor league prospects to deal for upgrades now.

2. Dave Dombrowski: Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski has taken his fair share of heat since the Tigers lost the 2006 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals and haven't returned to the playoffs since.

Tiger fans still haven't forgotten 2009, when the Tigers spent 146 days in first place in the AL Central and became the first team in history to lose a three-game lead with four games to play, losing a tie-breaker game to the Minnesota Twins.

This season, the Tigers are locked in a battle with the upstart Cleveland Indians for first place, and the pressure is on Dombrowski to make sure the Tigers can win the division.

Starting pitching has been the targeted priority for the Tigers during the summer, and with Detroit being ranked just 25th in farm system talent rankings by Baseball America at the start of the season, Dombrowski will need to be creative so as not to further diminish the future.

Standing pat will definitely not be an option, so Dombrowski will have his hands full in the next few weeks. Another disappointing finish for the Tigers could spell doom.

3. Andy MacPhail: Baltimore Orioles

This past offseason, Baltimore Orioles GM Andy MacPhail made a series of free agent signings and trades that were intended for the O's to contend in the ever-competitive AL East. Derrek Lee (one year, $7.25 million), Vladimir Guerrero (one year, $8 million), Mark Reynolds (trade w/Arizona Diamondbacks, two years, $12 million left on contract), and Kevin Gregg (two years, $10 million).

It's safe to say that with the Orioles currently sitting 18 games under .500, the contending part of MacPhail's plan didn't work.

With attendance at Camden Yards way down (10th out of 14 in AL), and MacPhail in the last year of his contract, it's fair to say that his days in Baltimore are numbered. There may be no deadline deal that could save MacPhail at this point.

4. Ned Colletti: Los Angeles Dodgers

It might be safe to say that of all the general managers on this list, the one whose future is clearly undecided would be Los Angeles Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti.

With the bankruptcy hanging over the head of the Dodgers and the uncertainty of the future of the franchise, Colletti's job may be safe—for now.

Still, Colletti will be tasked with building up the future of the franchise with deals he makes in the coming days. Hiroki Kuroda, Jamey Carroll, Rafael Furcal and several others who have been rumored to be on the block could potentially fetch a nice catch of prospects in return—if Colletti works his cards right.

Considering the instability of the Dodgers' franchise, it just might be Colletti's parting gift.

5. Ed Wade: Houston Astros

Last Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports indicated that new incoming Houston Astros owner Jim Crane may want to put his own stamp on the team by trying to lure current Tampa Bay Rays VP of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman to Houston, with the chance to run his hometown team.

However, even if Friedman elects to stay in Tampa Bay, Wade's days in Houston could be numbered anyway. With the worst record in baseball and a minor league talent ranking that was ranked 26th by Baseball America at the start of the season, Crane could very well clean house.

Wade could save his job if he brings in a package of top-tier prospects in return for players mentioned in trade rumors (Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, Wandy Rodriguez and others).

6. Jim Hendry: Chicago Cubs

There has been much talk recently about the fate of both Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry and manager Mike Quade in recent weeks, as the Cubs continue their free-fall, now 18 games under .500.

Whether or not Hendry can save his job by unloading pricey veterans remains to be seen, but unloading Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and the cantankerous Carlos Zambrano might help.

Very recently, word leaked that Cubs owner Tom Ricketts had spoken to Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick about joining the fold in Chicago. However, the Cubs on Monday denied that report.

7. Bill Smith: Minnesota Twins

With all the stability that has been the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins over the past twenty season, it's hard to imagine that current GM Bill Smith's job could be in jeopardy. And it very well might not be.

The Twins were dealt a tough hand this season, with injuries to Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Delmon Young, Denard Span, Jason Kubel and Jim Thome that shelved each for a significant amount of time.

However, Smith took a lot of criticism for losing several relievers to free agency and failing to reconstruct an adequate bullpen.

But, it's Minnesota. No one loses their job there easily.

8. Kenny Williams: Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox embark on a 10-game homestand on Monday night that see the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees come into town. GM Kenny Williams looks at this homestand as the potential turning point for the White Sox season.

“I don’t want anyone to feel as though anything imminent is coming because I’d like the focus to be on these next number of games here, so we can put ourselves in a position to maybe add rather than subtract,” Williams told Rick Gano of the Associated Press.

While the next 10 games could very well decide Chicago's fate, in particular the next six games may dictate what Williams decides to do at the trade deadline.

Given owner Jerry Reinsdorf's loyalty to his employees, Williams is probably safe. However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports brought up the fact that Reinsdorf may want to keep assistant GM Rick Hahn by promoting him, and moving Williams to the job of club president.

9. Dayton Moore: Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore has held his job now with Kansas City for the past five years, and while the Royals have finished either fourth of fifth in the AL Central, his job never appears to be in jeopardy.

Moore has done an outstanding job in drafting young talented ballplayers (Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Luke Hochevar, Alex Gordon), as well as finding diamonds in the rough on the cheap (Melky Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur).

With a minor league talent ranking of No. 1 by Baseball America, coupled with a couple of trades at the deadline that could net other promising prospects, Moore has built a solid foundation of future stars that will be under team control for years to come.

It's safe to say his job is safe.

10. Jack Zduriencik: Seattle Mariners

Last season, the Seattle Mariner scored fewer runs than any other team in the American League since the adoption of the designated hitter in 1973, an average of 3.17 runs per game.

This season, the M's are scoring an average of 3.29 runs per game, still dead last in the American League, and Zduriencik's inability to bring in hitters who can produce has been in question.

While the development of Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Michael Pineda has been a positive, the Mariners may need to completely blow things up. Their attendance is down 5,500 fans per game since 2008 in a gorgeous stadium, and fans have shown nothing but complete apathy.

Zduriencik's signing of Chone Figgins last season has blown up in his face as well, and Figgins has been mentioned as possible trade bait.

It would be hard to imagine any trade deadline that could keep Zduriencik in Seattle at this point.