The Most Scorching Hot Seat for Every MLB Team Heading into Next Season

There's a tantalizing week of action left in the MLB regular season. The playoffs are coming.

Still, it's not too early to gaze ahead to 2018 and discuss the players, skippers and front office types most likely to sit on the hot seat for all 30 clubs.

First, a definition: While we're focusing on players, managers and general managers at risk of getting demoted or losing their jobs, we're expanding the definition of "hot seat" to include guys staring down the barrel of an uncertain contract/opt-out year and players who are woefully underperforming relative to their salaries and expectations.

Feel free to offer your own hot takes in the comments.

American League East

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Baltimore Orioles: LHP Zach Britton

After a brilliant 2016 season in which he finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award balloting, Zach Britton has slogged through an injury-marred 2017.

The 29-year-old Baltimore Orioles closer is among the best ninth-inning arms in the game when healthy. He has a bum knee, however, and will need to remain on the field and effective in his 2018 contract year if he wants to cash in.

Boston Red Sox: LHP David Price

Yes, David Price is back and auditioning for the role of bullpen stud as the Boston Red Sox march toward the postseason.

He's also thrown just 70.2 innings this season while dealing with elbow and forearm issues. After posting a 3.99 ERA in 2016 and leading MLB in hits allowed, it's safe to say Price's Boston tenure isn't going as hoped.

The good news for Price is he can stay in Beantown and make $30 million-plus every season through 2022 if he wants to. On the other hand, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner and five-time All-Star has an opt-out after 2018 and could get even more guaranteed money if he pitches like an ace before then.

That's a massive "if," hence the hot seat.

New York Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka

Speaking of opt-outs, New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka can pull the rip cord on his contract this winter.

Tanaka has been wobbly at best in 2017, however, posting a 4.94 ERA. If the Yanks advance to a division series, it's worth wondering if Tanaka would even be in the postseason rotation.

The 28-year-old may well decide to opt in for the final three years and $67 million of his deal with New York and see if he can rebuild his value. 

If so, he'll get extra scrutiny from the front office and Bronx fans, who will demand a greater return on their investment.

Tampa Bay Rays: Manager Kevin Cash

Kevin Cash is in his third year as skipper of the Tampa Bay Rays, and they appear headed for a third straight losing record.

That's not all on Cash, obviously. The American League East is a tough division, and the Rays are perennially battling from a small-market, David vs. Goliath position.

At a certain point, though, results are results. When they aren't there, the manager's head is frequently the first to roll. While Cash is unlikely to be fired over the winter, a sub-.500 2018 will heat up his seat.

Toronto Blue Jays: Manager John Gibbons

Like Cash, John Gibbons' job is probably safe for now. The Toronto Blue Jays manager signed a two-year extension through 2019 in the spring.

However, after making the playoffs two years in a row, the Jays have crashed to earth. One last-place finish isn't going to doom Gibbons, but if Toronto struggles again next year, the chatter to replace him will grow louder.

Remember, the Blue Jays fired Gibbons once before, in 2008.

American League Central

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Chicago White Sox: RHP James Shields

The record is abysmal, but the rebuild is on track in Chicago's South Side, where the White Sox have already welcomed several rising stars and have many more gestating in their farm system.

That means veteran players had better watch their backs, including right-hander James Shields. Shields is signed through 2018 with a team option and buyout for 2019. The 35-year-old also owns an unsightly 5.23 ERA.

With emerging studs such as Lucas Giolito and the injured Carlos Rodon ready to front the rotation and power arms including Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease knocking on the door, there may soon be no room for Shields, a few recent solid outings aside.

Cleveland Indians: C Yan Gomes and C Roberto Perez

The Cleveland Indians are the defending American League champions and have the best record in the Junior Circuit. There aren't too many hot seats to be found by the shores of Lake Erie.

Still, Cleveland could look to shake up its catching situation next season. The duo of Yan Gomes (.230 average, .696 OPS) and Roberto Perez (.211 average, .662 OPS) has been mostly feckless at the plate. Meanwhile, top catching prospect Francisco Mejia hit .297 with an .835 OPS at Double-A before getting a September call-up.

Mejia is only 21 years old and far from a lock to take over as the full-time backstop in 2018. But he'll put pressure on Gomes and Perez, who are signed through 2021 and 2022, respectively, with club options and buyouts included.

Detroit Tigers: General Manager Al Avila

The Detroit Tigers finally committed to an overdue fire-sale and shipped out key pieces such as outfielder J.D. Martinez, lefty reliever Justin Wilson and ace right-hander Justin Verlander ahead of the non-waiver and waiver trade deadlines. Manager Brad Ausmus also won't be back next season. 

"We didn't win," general manager Al Avila told reporters. "The organization, the club got to a point where we needed change on the field. We needed to change the roster, and we started trading players, so the conclusion is: OK, you know what? Let's just take a whole brand-new road and opening up to new things."

Now, with the rebuild underway and few other scapegoats left, the onus falls on Avila to deal with thorny issues such as the fate of expensive, fading franchise icon Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers aren't expected to win in 2018, but there's ample pressure on Avila nonetheless.

Kansas City Royals: LF Alex Gordon

The Kansas City Royals could lose a number of players from their 2015 championship core to free agency this winter.

Left fielder Alex Gordon, meanwhile, is inked through 2019 at $20 million a season with a $23 million mutual option and $4 million buyout for 2020.

That's a lot of scratch for a team that isn't among MLB's biggest spenders. And it stings in light of Gordon's awful 2017 stat line: .211 average, .615 OPS and just nine home runs, all his worst totals in any full season.

The 33-year-old has shown flashes of late, but the final two years of that contract could be a massive drag on the Royals' payroll. They're a long way from releasing Gordon, but he'll be under intense scrutiny as he tries to rebound and earn his paycheck in 2018.

Minnesota Twins: Manager Paul Molitor

It seems nonsensical to suggest Minnesota Twins skipper Paul Molitor's seat would be even marginally warm. After the Twins lost 103 games in 2016, he's guided them to a winning season and likely wild-card berth. He's sure to get Manager of the Year votes and could win the award.

Still, Minnesota's front office is undecided about offering him a contract extension, as Pat Borzi of MinnPost.com reported. Management has already fired a number of scouts and minor-league coaches, Borzi noted, and there appears to be an emphasis on cleaning house.

"The question isn't whether Molitor has done enough to retain the manager job. He has," Borzi wrote. "... The question is whether [executives Derek] Falvey and [Thad] Levine dare fire Molitor if the Twins make the playoffs."

American League West

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Houston Astros: RHP Mike Fiers

Like the Indians, the first-place Houston Astros are keeping most of their seats cool through success. Right-hander Mike Fiers, however, hasn't joined the party.

The 32-year-old sports a 5.22 ERA and was bumped to a long-relief role in early September before he was suspended for throwing at the head of the Los Angeles Angels' Luis Valbuena.

Fiers is unlikely to play a significant role in the Astros' postseason push and will have to prove himself next season to reclaim a spot in a crowded rotation.

Los Angeles Angels: RHP Garrett Richards

The good news for the Angels is that Garrett Richards has pitched well since his return from an elbow injury, posting a 1.50 ERA in five September starts.

The bad news? Richards has thrown just 58.2 innings in the last two seasons combined. 

The 29-year-old has ace potential when he's right and can become a free agent after next season. That makes 2018 a pivotal year for him, as he looks to give the Halos a much-needed No. 1 arm and pitch his way into a lucrative deal.

Oakland Athletics: Manager Bob Melvin

It's not Bob Melvin's fault the Oakland Athletics are in last place in the American League West. There simply wasn't enough talent on the roster to compete, certainly not after Oakland held yet another trade-deadline sale.

The A's haven't had a winning record since 2014, however, and haven't won a playoff game since 2013. Melvin should be the manager on Opening Day 2018, but another cellar-dwelling campaign could spark a top-dugout-step change in the East Bay.

Seattle Mariners: General manager Jerry Dipoto

Jerry Dipoto loves to trade; this much we know. The Seattle Mariners general manager has made a dizzying array of moves since taking the helm in the Pacific Northwest.

Yet the Mariners missed the postseason in Dipoto's first season as GM and could finish with a sub-.500 record this year. 

That makes this winter, and next season, pivotal. If the M's rebound and Dipoto's moves bear fruit, he should stick around. If they backslide further, his job could be in jeopardy.

As an unnamed executive told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal (via Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times): "I've never gotten it. It feels like he has made 348 trades to turn a .500 team into a .500 team."

Texas Rangers: General manager Jon Daniels

Unlike Dipoto, Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels has a recent history of success. The Rangers won AL West titles on his watch in 2015 and 2016.

This year, a combination of injuries and regression bumped Texas down the division ladder, and it sold at the deadline, shipping ace Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Daniels will be back in 2018, but he'll be asked to thread the needle between a retool and a rebuild for a franchise that has never hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy.

How he does will determine whether he has a long-term future in Arlington.

National League East

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Atlanta Braves: Manager Brian Snitker 

Brian Snitker took over as interim manager of the Atlanta Braves in 2016. He kept the gig this season, but Atlanta will finish with a losing record. None of that screams "job security."

And yet, as USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported, first baseman Freddie Freeman and other Braves players have told the front office they want Snitker back.

A long-term contract seems like a stretch, but Snitker could get at least one more chance to guide Atlanta back to relevance.

Miami Marlins: Manager Don Mattingly

Other than Giancarlo Stanton's home run barrage, the biggest story in South Beach has been the impending sale of the Miami Marlins to a group headlined by Derek Jeter.

New ownership inevitably means wholesale changes, but will it mean the ouster of manager Don Mattingly? 

Mattingly and Jeter were teammates on the Yankees, and Mattingly heaped praise on the soon-to-be Hall of Fame shortstop in April.

Will it be enough for Mattingly to retain his job through next season and beyond? Stay tuned. 

New York Mets: Manager Terry Collins

It's been a dreadful season in Queens. Manager Terry Collins can't be blamed for all of it; he didn't cause Noah Syndergaard to miss nearly the entire campaign with an injury, for example.

However, as FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman noted, Collins has reportedly disagreed with general manager Sandy Alderson over strategy. That's never a good sign.

On a scale of lukewarm to en fuego, put Collins' seat in the latter category.

Philadelphia Phillies: General manager Matt Klentak

The Philadelphia Phillies are neck-and-neck with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record in baseball, with the Tigers also in the hunt.

That alone won't doom general manager Matt Klentak. Philly is rebuilding; a terrible record means a high draft pick.

Klentak, however, will face a litany of tough, crucial decisions this offseason, as Jay Dunn of the Trentonian outlined. There's young talent on the big league roster and in the minors, but Klentak needs to get more pitching and decide which pieces to keep and which to sell.

As Dunn put it, "The Phillies have a chance to re-emerge very soon as one of baseball's strong franchises, but there's no certainty that will happen. A great deal of the club's future could depend on the decisions [Klentak makes] in the next few weeks." 

We'd add the next few months, and into 2018.

Washington Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker

This one is speculative, and partly contingent on October results. Dusty Baker just guided the Washington Nationals to their second straight division title. That should mean he has a job in 2018.

The Nats have never advanced past the division series, however, and will face a tough first-round test in the defending champion Chicago Cubs.

If they fall in the National League Division Series again, Baker's bench will get warmer. Despite his long managerial track record, he too has never won a title.

National League Central

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Chicago Cubs: RF Jason Heyward

Jason Heyward is signed with the Chicago Cubs through 2023, but he has an opt-out after 2018. There's no guarantee he'll exercise it.

The 28-year-old remains a whiz defensively, but his .717 OPS is hardly robust for a corner outfielder.

If Heyward doesn't improve his offense in 2018, he can stay on the North Side and make $20 million-plus for five more seasons. Not a bad Plan B. Still, if he can return to the prowess he displayed in 2012—when he hit 27 home runs for the Braves—he could sign an even more stratospheric contract.

Cincinnati Reds: Manager Bryan Price

The Cincinnati Reds were supposed to be a last-place team, and they have been. Skipper Bryan Price will probably be back next season.

At a certain point, though, management and fans will want to see improvement. If the Reds tread water again next season or take a step back, look for Price to be the sacrificial lamb.

As Price himself put it, per Zach Buchanan of Cincinnati.com: "Losing sucks. Plain and simple."

Milwaukee Brewers: INF Jonathan Villar

The Milwaukee Brewers have been a great story this season, turning what was supposed to be a rebuilding year into a surprise playoff push. Even if they fall short, it's been a great ride.

Not so much for infielder Jonathan Villar, who broke out with a huge 2016 but has regressed significantly and seen his playing time wane.

Villar can't become a free agent until 2021, which gives him time to rebuild his value. But what appeared to be a star trajectory has turned into a cautionary tale. Next season will be a pivotal opportunity to turn it back around for the 26-year-old.

Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Andrew McCutchen

Andrew McCutchen's name churned through the rumor mill last winter and at the trade deadline, but the Pittsburgh Pirates kept the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player.

McCutchen has had a nice comeback season, hitting 28 home runs and posting an .849 OPS. Assuming the Bucs exercise his $14.5 million option for 2018, the 30-year-old will have one more year to flash top-level production before what could be his final, massive payday.

St. Louis Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny

The St. Louis Cardinals are likely going to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. That's a drought for a club accustomed to perennial contention.

Mike Matheny should be at the controls again in 2018, but if the Redbirds fail to make the dance again, his St. Louis tenure could be in danger.

National League West

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Arizona Diamondbacks: OF Yasmany Tomas

It's been a glorious turnaround season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who initiated a front office culture change over the winter and are headed to the postseason.

That's no thanks to slugger Yasmany Tomas, who has played just 47 games and slashed an anemic .241/.294/.464.

The D-backs owe Tomas $42.5 million through 2020, but the 26-year-old will need to show health and better plate discipline to earn an everyday role in 2018.

Colorado Rockies: SS Trevor Story

Trevor Story was one of MLB's best breakout, well, stories in 2016. He's stumbled for the wild-card-chasing Colorado Rockies this year and is hitting .233 with an National League-leading 188 strikeouts.

He's got big power potential and is under club control through 2021. But with top middle-infield prospect Brendan Rodgers waiting in the wings, 2018 will be a key year for Story to either reclaim his burgeoning basher status or face diminished playing time and a possible trade.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez

Adrian Gonzalez has fallen far and fast. The five-time All-Star has battled injuries and seen his numbers and playing time plummet as stud rookie Cody Bellinger has risen to take his place.

It happens, even to the best players. Yet the Dodgers owe Gonzalez $21.5 million next season. After that, he'll be entering free agency as a 36-year-old.

If he wants to avoid the uncomfortable albatross label in 2018 and land one more big contract before retirement, he'll need to bounce back—possibly in a limited role.

San Diego Padres: General manager A.J. Preller

A.J. Preller has had a curious career as the San Diego Padres GM. First, he went on a buying spree before the 2015 season, raiding the Padres farm system and trying to build a winner.

When that fizzled, he tore the whole thing down. Now, the Friars are in the midst of a full-scale rebuild.

Clearly, San Diego is willing to stick with Preller through the bumps. And no one said it would be a winner in 2017.

Next year feels like a turning point, though, when Preller needs to make a string of strong moves and the Pads need to inch closer to contention. Otherwise, it may be time for a new architect.

San Francisco Giants: RHP Mark Melancon

The Giants could finish with the worst record in baseball and narrowly avoid 100 losses. That's quite a dive for a club that won three titles from 2010 to 2014 and made the NLDS last season.

Still, San Francisco is known for its loyalty, and the jobs of manager Bruce Bochy and GM Bobby Evans are likely safe for now.

As for the players, there are guys all over the roster who need to improve their performances relative to expectations, but none more so than Mark Melancon.

The Giants signed the right-hander to a four-year, $62 million contract over the winter, only to watch him post a 4.50 ERA, lose the closer's job to Sam Dyson and then undergo forearm surgery.

With all that money committed, San Francisco will give Melancon every opportunity to reclaim ninth-inning duties. As it showed this year, however, it's about results.

All statistics and contract information accurate as of Tuesday and courtesy of Baseball-Reference.