Stephen Vogt back to Guardians in '27, shuns Mariners rumors - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Guardians manager Stephen Vogt dispelled speculation about his future, saying he'll return to the club next season to chase an elusive World Series title.

«I'm here,» Vogt said at a news conference Thursday. «I'm coming back.»

Vogt has led the Guardians to a division crown in each of his three seasons, He has twice been named American League Manager of the Year. With the Seattle Mariners' managerial spot open, there had been rumblings about Vogt possibly leaving in order to be closer to his family's home in Olympia, Washington.

However, the 41-year-old Vogt said he has not been contacted by the Mariners, who fired Dan Wilson last month following a disappointing 76-86 season.

Vogt spent one season as Seattle's bullpen coach in 2023 before being hired by Cleveland and that relationship helped fuel theories about a departure.

«I'll be in Cleveland,» Vogt said three days after the Guardians were eliminated in the American League Championship Series by Tampa Bay. «I have not gotten a phone call.»

While Vogt is adamant he's staying, it remains possible the Mariners could call the Guardians with a trade offer. Though rare, trades involving managers in Major League Baseball are not unprecedented, with the most recent one involving John Farrell going from Boston to Toronto in 2012.

Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti was asked about a potential pitch from the Mariners.

«I have every expectation that Voter is going to manage here for a really long time,» Antonetti said, using Vogt's nickname. «We don't have any interest in Voter managing anywhere else.»

Vogt signed a multiyear contract extension with Cleveland following the 2024 season. That deal was never made public and the club's secrecy about