4 MLB Managers Who Will Be Looking for New Jobs in 2014

Well, it's that time of year. The time when certain MLB managers find themselves on the proverbial "hot seat", as their respective clubs have failed to meet certain expectations. 

Not counting Sandy Alomar and Tony DeFrancesco who were hired as interim managers, there were five managerial changes in 2012, with two of them coming midseason. 

So far in 2013, Charlie Manuel represents the lone skipper to lose his job, as the Philadelphia Phillies dismissed him last week. 

But rest assured, Manuel will not be the last one to go. So who else will join him on the job hunt for the 2014 season? Here's a look at some managers who might want to send goodbye letters to their current team.

Ron Gardenhire

After finishing with a .500 record or better in eight of his first nine seasons as Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire has seen some struggles the last two-plus seasons. His Twins finished each of the last two seasons in the cellar of the AL Central, and this year the team has improved to a likely fourth-place finish.

The team currently sits in fourth place with a 56-70 record, entering play on Friday. And while the future may look bright for the Twins, it may be another two or three seasons before they are legitimately ready to contend. 

With Gardenhire's contract up following the 2013 season, it may be time for he and the organization to move on.

Eric Wedge

Eric Wedge's beard has certainly gotten a lot grayer during his tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, and justifiably so.

Since Wedge was hired as the M's skipper before the 2011 season, the team hasn't finished higher than fourth in the AL West (remember, up until this season, there were only four teams in the division). In fact, Wedge hasn't managed a winning ballclub since the Indians finished at .500 in 2008. 

Now, Wedge is in the final year of his contract, and while the Mariners have looked better of late, they have not exactly lived up to the expectations that were set when the team brought in sluggers such as Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales during the offseason.

Entering play on Friday, the Mariners owned a 59-67 record, and have scored the fifth-fewest amount of runs per game in the league (along with the fourth-highest ERA in the league). And while their record is actually better than that of the Angels, I believe the team was at least hoping for a .500 finish, which seems rather improbable at this stage.

Wedge's brief, but unsuccessful term as manager in Seattle may be drawing to a close.

Joe Girardi

The 2013 season has been more-or-less a dreadful one for Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees. The team currently resides in fourth place in the AL East, and is also far out in the Wild Card race. A slew of injuries to key players (Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez) have only compounded matters in the Bronx.

Girardi, now in the final year of his contract with the Yankees, has had a successful run replacing Joe Torre as the team's skipper. Since assuming the role, he has earned a World Series title in 2008, and two other first-place finishes in the division.

The Yankees are going to have an interesting decision on their hands this winter regarding what to do with Giardi. He has certainly proven he can handle New York—he played four seasons with the Yankees—and he's been fairly successful. But there is a chance he could be looking through the want-ads heading into the 2014 season.

Ron Roenicke

The 2013 season is Ron Roenicke's third as the skipper of the Brewers, and each year the team has gotten worse.

In 2011, he debuted with a first-place finish, leading the Brewers to the playoffs for just the second time since 1982. 

But in 2012, the team regressed to a third-place finish, with an 83-79 record. And now, at 55-72, the Milwaukee Brewers currently own the third-worst record in the National League and the team is knocking on the cellar door of the NL Central.

Things are looking bleak for the 56-year-old manager. He has one more year left on his contract (plus an option for 2015), but perhaps a change of scenery will do him and the Brew Crew a great deal of good for the future.