MLB Manager of the Year Odds and Predictions 2025: Counsell, Hinch are Runaway Favorites

There are two clear front-runners in the MLB Manager of the Year odds, with Craig Counsell and AJ Hinch leading.
MLB Manager of the Year Odds
Pictured: Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell smiles before a game between the Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn.

There are two clear favorites in the MLB Manager of the year odds as the midway point of the season approaches. Both are from powerhouse teams in their respective leagues, including one who has been rapidly turning around the fortunes of the once woeful Detroit Tigers.

Let's take a closer look at the AL Manager of the Year odds and NL Manager of the Year odds from one of our best sportsbooks that we use often while making MLB picks.

πŸ”’ AL manager of the year odds

Manager bet365 Implied probability Profit on a $10 bet
AJ Hinch -400 80% $2.50
Dan Wilson +1200 7.69% $120
Bruce Bochy +1800 5.26% $180
Joe Espada +1800 5.26% $180
Kevin Cash +2000 4.76% $200
Matt Quatraro +2000 4.76% $200
Aaron Boone +2500 3.85% $250
Alex Cora +2500 3.85% $250
John Schneider +2500 3.85% $250
Rocco Baldelli +2500 3.85% $250

πŸ”’ NL manager of the year odds

Manager bet365 Implied probability Profit on a $10 bet
Craig Counsell -160 61.54% $6.25
Bob Melvin +600 14.29% $60
Oilver Marmol +600 14.29% $60
Mike Shildt +1400 6.67% $140
Carlos Mendoza +1500 6.25% $150
Dave Roberts +1800 5.26% $180
Pat Murphy +1800 5.26% $180
Terry Francona +1800 5.26% $180
Rob Thompson +2200 4.35% $220
Torey Lovullo +3000 3.23% $300

πŸ† MLB manager of the year favorites

AJ Hinch (-400)

MLB Manager of the Year Odds
Pictured: Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, left, and president of baseball operations Scott Harris, right, talk with reporters. Photo by Evan Petzold / USA Today Network via Imagn.

The Detroit Tigers aren't far removed from a 2022 season when they lost 96 games. And an especially disastrous 2019 campaign in which they dropped 114 contests is also in the relatively recent past.

It's been a swift course correction from being near or above 100 losses in those seasons to now sitting among the American League leaders, and manager AJ Hinch has been central to that effort.

Hinch came aboard in 2021. There were still growing pains to endure under him, including that dreadful 2022 campaign. But then the Tigers won 86 games before ousting the Houston Astros in the playoffs last year, and now they're flying high as leading World Series odds contenders.

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Craig Counsell (-160 odds)

The Chicago Cubs haven't made the playoffs in a non-pandemic-shortened season since 2018.

But much like Hinch in Detroit, the reversal of fortunes since Counsell assumed his position has been quick. The Cubs posted a fine 83-79 record during his first season in the Windy City, and now they boast one of the best records in MLB. Even more impressively, they sit among the top teams in run differential.

Manager of the Year is a narrative-driven award more than any other, and also like Hinch, Counsell has the resurrection element on his side.

πŸ‘€ MLB manager of the year odds sleeper pick

Bob Melvin (+600)

MLB Manager of the Year Odds
Pictured: San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin watches warmups before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park. Photo by Bob Kupbens / Imagn.

It's already growing increasingly difficult to push aside Counsell in the NL. But the gap between Counsell and the others in the top three isn't nearly as wide in the NL as Hinch's lead in the AL.

That leaves at least a sliver of space open, and Melvin has the narrative power to barrel through that door. He's also been leading a turnaround with the San Francisco Giants, who have been the definition of pedestrian over the past three seasons while posting win totals of 81, 79, and 80.

Now the Giants are among the NL leaders. However, Melvin is surely held back in this market because San Francisco needs to deal with the behemoth San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, with the latter boasting MLB MVP odds leader Shohei Ohtani.

πŸ€– MLB Manager of the year AI prediction

AL: AJ Hinch (-400)

Here's ChatGPT's reasoning for tabbing Hinch to secure the award as the favorite:

"Detroit boasts one of the best records in baseball, with dominant pitching and impressive win totals well above preseason expectations. Voters often reward managers who exceed expectations. Hinch’s leadership in optimizing pitching usage and navigating key player performances has drawn strong attention."

NL: Craig Counsell (-160)

Here's what ChatGPT has to say about Counsell, who's leading the surging Cubs.

"The Cubs are pacing well atop the NL Central and are recognized as strong World Series contenders. Many analysts favor Counsell due to his record and ability to maximize team potential."

πŸ“– Manager of the year odds voting

The Manager of the Year award is given to one manager in each league every year, leading to a winner in the American League and another in the National League.

Writers from the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote, and they submit choices for first, second, and third. The winner is chosen through a points-based system, with each first-place vote worth five points, second worth three points, and third getting one point.

A similar process takes place for other awards, including to determine who triumphs in the MLB Rookie of the Year odds.

πŸ“œ MLB Manager of the Year history

πŸ† Past AL Manager of the Year winners

Year Name
2024  Stephen Vogt, CLE
2023 Brandon Hyde, BAL
2022 Aaron Judge, NYY
2021 Terry Francona, CLE
2020 Kevin Cash, TB
2019 Rocco Baldelli, MIN
2018 Bob Melvin, OAK
2017 Paul Molitor, MIN
2016 Terry Francona, CLE
2015 Jeff Banister, TEX

πŸ† Past NL Manager of the Year winners

Year Name
2024 Pat Murphy, MIL
2023 Skip Schumaker, MIA
2022 Buck Showalter, NYM
2021 Gabe Kapler, SF
2020 Don Mattingly, MIA
2019 Mike Shildt, STL
2018 Brian Snitker, ATL
2017 Torey Lovullo, ARZ
2016 Dave Roberts, LAD
2015 Joe Madden, CHC

❓Manager of the year FAQs

Who is the favorite to be Manger of the Year in 2025?

Detroit Tigers skipper AJ Hinch is the runaway favorite in the AL while getting -400 odds at bet365. In the NL, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is the easy favorite, and he's receiving -160 odds. Both are far ahead, with the manager in second getting +600 odds or longer in both leagues.

Who was Manager of the Year in 2024?

Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians was named the manager of the year in the AL after last season. Meanwhile, Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers took the honor in the NL. It was the third time a Guardians manager has been given the award over the past decade.

How are Manager of the Year odds determined?

Members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote on the MLB awards, including Manager of the Year. Two writers in every city for each league submit their votes before the postseason starts. Both Vogt and Murphy secured 27 first-place votes last year.

🏟️ MLB betting odds pages

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