The Guardians made their position on Stephen Vogt unmistakably clear Thursday: he’s staying in Cleveland.
After several days of online speculation tying Vogt to Seattle’s managerial opening, the two-time American League Manager of the Year said there’s no mystery from his end.
“I’ll be in Cleveland,” Vogt said during a season-ending meeting with reporters. “I mean, I have not gotten a phone call.
It was all just media. I’m here.
I’m coming back.”
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti backed that up just as directly when asked whether the organization would even consider another club pursuing its manager.
“We don’t have any interest in Voter managing anywhere else,” Antonetti said.
The rumor mill had picked up after the Mariners fired Dan Wilson, and Vogt’s name quickly surfaced as a possible replacement. But despite the chatter, the setup around Progressive Field on Thursday pointed in the other direction. Antonetti said Vogt remains under contract beyond 2027, though he did not reveal the full length of the deal.
“We have every expectation Vogter’s going to be here for a really long time,” Antonetti said. “And he has a contract that’s reflective of that.”
There was at least some fuel for the speculation. Vogt spent the 2023 season in Seattle as the Mariners’ bullpen and quality control coach before taking over in Cleveland. His wife and three children live in Olympia, Washington, where his family has been based for 19 years, and Vogt said the distance is the hardest part of the job.
“The worst part of my job is being away from my family,” Vogt said.
He also said his family talks every year about whether relocating to Cleveland makes sense, but their ties to Washington remain strong.
“Our family has a home base in Olympia, Washington that we don’t want to give up,” Vogt said. “Our home and our family is the most sacred thing to us.
We love the Cleveland area. We love our summer here.
I love living here. I just wish I could be in two places at once.”
For now, the message from both sides is stability. Vogt is expected back, and the Guardians believe their coaching staff will return intact as well.
Antonetti said longtime pitching coach Carl Willis will return in 2027 after talks with the organization.
“He is insanely competitive and wants to win a World Series in Cleveland, for Cleveland,” Antonetti said.
Antonetti added that other teams could still seek permission to speak with Cleveland coaches if openings arise, but as things stand, the Guardians expect continuity across the staff. And that includes the manager who has led them to three straight AL Central Division titles.
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