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Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell has guided this team to a winning record in three of his five seasons, including last season, and winning the division seems doable. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

MLB Betting: National League Manager of the Year

By Matt Wiesenfeld | Last updated 3/12/24

Manager of the Year is a funny one because there are arguments that baseball managers have the least impact on the game, especially now with analytics buzzing all around the ballpark. Some teams and games seem to be governed more by algorithms than people these days.

That might be a bit extreme but just watch a playoff game and tell me how much "managing" is going on. Nevertheless, they do hand out this award every year and it is usually given to the manager who is making the most out of the least, with a caveat being that you have to win some.

Here is a look at the National League Manager of the Year market.

National League Manager of the Year Futures

Craig Counsell, Chicago Cubs +550

This is a rare situation where Counsell has left one team for another. Made all the more interesting by the fact Counsell's old team is in the same division. With Milwaukee he had a lot of success, winning three division titles including last season. The fact that the Brewers did not have as much success in the postseason is hard to pin on the manager in my opinion. This is a much higher profile spot and the money is better. However, I see no way he wins the award without the Cubs winning the division. This is a better payoff.

David Bell, Cincinnati Reds, +650

I am high on the Reds this season (though it sucks about Noelvi Marte being suspended for PEDs). Bell has guided this team to a winning record in three of his five seasons, including last season, and winning the division seems doable to me with the Cardinals a mess and Milwaukee less certain than in the past. If that happens, he is a great candidate for this award too, especially because it is going to mean he has deftly guided a young squad. They are +350 to win the division so like above this is a greater payoff.

Rob Thomson, Philadelphia Phillies, +700

Thomson was pretty close to a second World Series appearance (in two years) last season. Philadelphia has a good team, though they are not as deep as Atlanta. His playoff success has quickly developed a strong respect in the league so if the Phillies could break through and take the division from the Braves the award could be there for the taking. In keeping with the breakdowns above, backing the Phillies to win the division is just +350, while this payoff is better.

Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers, +950

Roberts is always considered a long shot because the Dodgers are just too good. It feels like anyone could manage them to success, right? This year especially so, but I actually think this could be a time for Roberts to shine. If he is up to the task (and yes I previously wrote about how I do not see a coronation as automatic for the Dodgers). If L.A. sets some records for success you have to look at Roberts. There is no value in picking them to win the NL West at -450 but I think there is still some value here.

Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks, +1400

Lovullo won this award in his first season at the helm of Arizona, back in 2017. Last year he had the Diamondbacks in the World Series, which, fairly or not, may have cemented him as being considered among the better current managers. To win the award he does not need to make it to the World Series again, he just needs to have Arizona be in the race and push the Dodgers. If they finish second but there is some doubt in September that might be enough. They only won 84 games a year ago so there is lots of room for improvement.

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