0 of 5

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

With every bit of improvement a team makes during the offseason, its expectations obviously rise.

And with that, the manager’s seat undoubtedly heats up.

This year’s edition of managers on the potential chopping block features skippers with expectations to surpass what they did in 2014, and their teams are all arguably improved from those previous runs. Failure to show progress during the season could lead to a scapegoat and in-season change. Others may get the entire season to prove or disprove that they are the men for the job.

Contracts also play a part in this, where some are in a contract year and others have a couple of seasons to play with. Also, recent declarations of confidence have taken at least two managers—Matt Williams and Ron Roenicke—off this list.

There are also certain American League managers who might be perceived to be on the hot seat because of increased expectations, but the fact is, they have done enough before this coming season to earn some leeway. Ned Yost led the Kansas City Royals to the World Series in 2014. Robin Ventura is coming off a season in which the Chicago White Sox improved by 10 wins. Brad Ausmus should get a pass because if his Detroit Tigers fail to reach the World Series, it is likely their aging and potentially declining roster would shoulder the blame, along with a questionable bullpen.

Of course, none of that is a guarantee. It only allows for some slack.

Most of the managers who did make this list are under pressure to contend or to win their league’s pennant, while another is under the gun to make a now-healthy roster relevant. Failure could result in a pink slip.