Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt Addresses Mariners Rumors

Every offseason inevitably brings turnover and change to a roster and an organization. The Cleveland Guardians are no exception.

There are people who were in the dugout during Cleveland’s Game 6 loss earlier this week who just won’t be there at the start of 2027.

Sometimes those changes come as a shock, and one surprise name mentioned as potentially not returning to the Guardians next year is manager Stephen Vogt.

Vogt just wrapped up his third year as Cleveland’s skipper. However, there’s another opening that, on paper, would be a perfect fit for him for a variety of reasons.

When the Seattle Mariners parted ways with Dan Wilson, Vogt immediately became an intriguing candidate to fill his spot.

Cleveland’s skipper addressed the rumors during his end-of-season media availability on Thursday afternoon and set the record straight.

Vogt said he hasn't heard anything about the opening and reiterated that he’s under contract with the Guardians as of right now. At the same time, the dad of two also admitted he misses his family every day.

“You've gotten more phone calls than I have. I have not heard a word about it,” Vogt said. “I'm under contract here, and I love Cleveland.”

“I would love to be close to my family, if I'm being honest. I miss them every day. It's the hardest part of this job. But I'm committed to being here in Cleveland, and I hope I'm here for a long time.”

Based on Vogt’s comments as of Thursday, it doesn’t sound like he’s planning on being anywhere else at the start of 2027. However, anything can happen.

The big question is: why would Vogt leave an organization he’s clearly had success with for another? Well, for the same reason other people make professional decisions: family.

Vogt’s wife is from Washington. He lives there with them during the offseason. The Mariners were also the first organization to give him a coaching chance, and he served as bullpen coach in 2023.

As the Mariners look to fill their managerial vacancy, they’d be wild not to consider Vogt, even if there wasn’t any prior connection with his family.

The 41-year-old was always bound to be a manager, even during his playing career, and his short resume leading a big-league team backs that up. Vogt was named American League Manager of the Year during his first two seasons at the helm, and he has brought the Guardians to the postseason each of the three years he’s been in charge.

On top of that, Vogt has been a true clubhouse leader as the team has faced serious adversity, including injuries in 2024 and 2026 and the 2025 gambling incident.

It's impossible to predict the future. But for now, Vogt insists he’s happy in Cleveland.