Guardians are officially on notice after latest Mariners managerial rumors are full of Stephen Vogt breadcrumbs

Stephen Vogt was always going to have some big shoes to fill when he became the Guardians’ manager since he was taking the spot for future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona. 

But Vogt has done nothing but make the spot his own thanks to three straight postseason berths highlighted by crazy finishes to the season in 2025 and ‘26. And the rest of MLB has started to take notice. 

On Sunday, the Seattle Mariners fired manager Dan Wilson after a disappointing 76-86 season that came 11 months after Wilson helped lead the Mariners within a game of winning the World Series. 

Mariners leadership got as close to the mountaintop as you can get without winning in 2025, and it seems like that success has that leadership group ready to go big game hunting with their next manager. 

One of their options seems to be Vogt, who was included in the Seattle Time’s Adam Jude’s list of five managerial targets who could be on the Mariners’ radar. 

Here we go. 

Stephen Vogt's name was linked to the Mariners' managerial opening

It makes sense the Mariners would be interested in Vogt since he spent the 2023 season working as Seattle’s bullpen coach, and he lives in Washington with his family in the offseason. 

Jude reported that the Mariners were interested in promoting Vogt to their bench coach position in 2024 before the Guardians hired him as their manager, so the Mariners likely view him as the one who got away. 

That said, it would be tough for the Mariners to get Vogt considering he’s likely under contract for the 2027 season.

It's likely” because managerial contracts are almost never public, but ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last offseason that Vogt signed a multi-year deal after the 2024 season while The Athletic’s Zack Mesiel added that Vogt is going to be in Cleveland for a long time. 

All that makes it seem like the only way the Mariners would be able to get Vogt is by trading for him, which has only happened three times in MLB history (the Mariners pulled off the biggest managerial trade when they dealt All-Star Randy Winn to the Rays for Lou Piniella in 2002). 

While it’s fun to imagine the Guardians getting a bevy of Mariners players for Vogt, his leadership is a huge reason why the Guardians have made it to three straight postseasons. 

One way the Mariners could dip into the Vogt's coaching depth is by hiring bench coach Tony Arnerich, who is in his first season in Cleveland after spending four seasons on the Mariners’ big league coaching staff. 

Vogt may not be going anywhere, but his name is going to continue to float in trade rumors so long as the top step in the Mariners’ dugout sits unoccupied. Here’s hoping they make a decision soon. 

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