Joe Girardi gets it.

The New York Yankees spent more than $420 million on three marquee free agents this offseason with the intention of returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Those expectations squarely fall on Girardi.

"I don't necessarily think about those things," Girardi said during spring training when asked if he has the no-playoffs, no-job mindset. "But as you state the question, you're probably right."

That puts Girardi atop the list of managers most likely to be whacked.

Hamstrung by injuries, the Yankees went 89-73 last season and finished third in the American League East. They finished eight games behind the division-champion Rays and six games behind the wild card-winning Red Sox.

At times, Girardi seemed uncomfortable with the pressure that came with managing the Yankees. His biggest shortcoming is that he isn't Joe Torre, his serene predecessor who guided his teams to the postseason each year from 1996-2007.

"It would have been difficult for any manager," Girardi said. "He (Torre) was here so long and had relationships with everyone involved. I knew it wasn't going to be easy replacing him, and I never tried to replace him. I'm just glad I went through the whole experience."

If Girardi is dumped, keep this name in mind for next season: Bobby Valentine. He plans to leave Japan after this season and wants to get back into the major leagues. Look for a not-so-subtle campaign promoting Valentine.

Girardi isn't alone in his precarious situation. Other managers already feeling the burn that comes with being on the hot seat:

Ron Washington in Texas
Rangers president Nolan Ryan was set to make a change in the dugout last season, but he held off long enough for the Rangers to win a few games and strengthen Washington's status.

Washington will not get the same break this season. He went 154-170 in his first two seasons on the job, extending the Rangers' playoff drought to nine years.

The mark against Washington is the Rangers have been a sloppy team in his first two seasons on the job, committing a major league-worst 256 errors in that span.

Washington is the sixth first-timer among the past eight Texas managers. That will be a factor if a replacement is needed. Ryan would be more likely to go with a veteran such as Mike Hargrove than another unproven manager.

Jim Leyland in Detroit
In his 18th season as a major league manager, Leyland is going through a new experience. For the first time, he is operating in the final year of a contract. A manager in the final year of a contract finds himself in a difficult spot. Does he play all-out to win now and get himself an extension, or does he do what is best for players in the long run?

Leyland insisted this spring that the contract situation doesn't bother him. Detroit has had two disappointing seasons since Leyland guided them to the World Series against St. Louis in 2006

A third consecutive poor season could end Leyland's tenure in Detroit.

During spring training, Leyland said he had no desire to discuss his contract status or campaign for an extension. "It's very simple," Leyland said. "If we do well, I'll probably still be here. If we don't, I won't. I'm not going to make it a subject all year. It's not really important. What's important is getting back into the good groove we think we can get into."

Bud Black in San Diego
Like Leyland, Black is in the final year of his contract. Unlike Leyland, Black cannot bolster his case for an extension by presenting a long body of work.

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This is only Black's third season with San Diego, but it might seem like a lifetime to him. After missing the playoffs in 2007 because of stumbles in the final week, the Padres dropped to a last-place finish in the N.L. West in 2008.

Meanwhile, an ownership change is under way. Former player agent Jeff Moorad is now in charge. Moorad would be within his rights to have his choice of manager, perhaps a former client such as Will Clark.

Manny Acta in Washington
A curious offseason in Washington's front office began when former general manager Jim Bowden decided not to pick up the club option on Acta for the 2010 season. Bowden hired Acta but seemed disenchanted by the Nationals' decline from 73 wins in 2007 to 59 last season.

Bowden left the organization under duress during spring training, and Acta could be swept out in the ensuing shakeup. Team president Stan Kasten likely will bring in an experienced general manager like John Hart or Chuck LaMar. Both would be reluctant to inherit a manager.

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