The Guardians will interview Giants bullpen/catching coach Craig Albernaz about their upcoming managerial vacancy, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Terry Francona may officially announce his retirement as Cleveland’s skipper as early as tonight, so the Guardians are already lining up what is expected to be a long list of possible replacements.
Albernaz (who turns 41 later this month) has spent the last four seasons on the Giants’ coaching staff. A longtime catcher in the Rays’ and Tigers’ farm systems from 2006-14, Albernaz then became a coach, field coordinator, and manager for Tampa Bay at the minor league level. His experience as a manager consists of a partial season with the Rays’ short-season A-ball affiliate in 2017, and then a full year with the Rays’ high-A affiliate in 2018.
Slusser notes that the Giants might interview Albernaz for their own managerial opening, and interim manager Kai Correa and third base coach Mark Hallberg could also be considered. Since a managerial change usually begets changes on the coaching staff, Slusser feels teams could try to make some hires away from San Francisco, with pitching coach Andrew Bailey reportedly on the Yankees’ radar. There hasn’t been any indication that New York pitching coach Matt Blake could be in danger of losing his job, so it isn’t known exactly what role the Yankees might have in mind for Bailey.
More on other possible coaching moves from around baseball…
- Sticking with the Yankees, hitting coach Sean Casey told the New York Post’s Greg Joyce that he has been asked to return in 2024, though he first had to discuss matters with his family before deciding one way or the other. Casey took over the hitting coach job at midseason on essentially a 1.5-year contract, with an understanding that the two sides might re-evaluate things after the season. While the Yankees’ lack of batting prowess has been an issue before and after Casey’s hiring, he has won some immediate support — Aaron Judge praised Casey’s work, while both GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone have asked Casey to keep coaching. Joyce observes that Cashman’s support of Casey might indicate that Boone will also be returning as manager, since Boone and Casey are good friends. [UPDATE: Speaking with The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and other reporters, Casey said that he hasn’t received a former offer to return next season.}
- White Sox manager Pedro Grifol implied that some changes are coming to his coaching staff, though was short on details with the Chicago Sun-Times’ Daryl Van Schouwen (X link) and other reporters because “it’s a very sensitive issue. We talk about the staff, we talk about people who have been in the game a long, long time. Unfortunately, this is a game that’s predicated on wins and losses.” Like Grifol himself, several members of the staff are finishing their first season with the White Sox, including bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, hitting coach Jose Castro. It isn’t known if any of these specific coaches might be in jeopardy, or if the Sox are looking at some of the longer-standing holdovers. [UPDATE: assistant pitching coach Curt Hasler will be reassigned to a role in the minor league system, James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.]
Shohei will be the Giants player-manager next season…
Nah, sorry Giants … he already said he’s running for President of the Moon. He’s got all the votes too, so it’s pretty much decided.
Grifol should be kissing the butts of Reinsdorf and Getz for still having his job, but it feels its at the expense of Sox fans…At least Katz and Castro (hitting coach) should be fired, Rodriguez also made questionable decisions at third base as well.
I just don’t see how anything will be different next year with this guy at the helm and Getz at GM.. I hope Im wrong.
Getz was the guy who Grifol wanted as GM. They have been lovers since KC.
Anything less than the CWS firing Grifol on down will be a massive mistake. The culture is broken and needs to be changed immediately..it won’t be because you have Getz who has allowed the acceptable culture of losing in the minor league systems acceptable.
I don’t get how Grifol still has a job. He talked a good game last offseason about culture. Team ended with the worst team culture I’ve ever heard of. Talked about accountability. Didn’t hold anyone accountable. Talked about coming ready to play every day. They came ready to play about once a week. Talked about fundamentals, yet this team failed at basics like pitch recognition / swing decisions, defense, and throwing strikes. Sox need a manager who knows how to lead, not someone who only knows how to talk about leading.
hyraxwithaflamethrower;
Mr. Grifol is a solid baseball man respected throughout the industry.
I’ve managed people, and I can tell you this:
When the people that reported to me could go over my head to those I reported to and say they didn’t want to do this and I was a so-and-so making demands – and upper management backed them – I had little influence on those reporting to me. It’s a common problem with some organizations.
When those above me were micro-managing and not giving me a direction to go in, but rather telling me how my staff should do what they wanted done – it seldom worked.
When the Sox owner went out and and interviewed personnel throughout his organization he realized how totally screwed up baseball ops was (something he should have been aware of years ago just by watching the ML team on the field). He fired the right people at the top of baseball ops. For sure Mr. Grifol deserves at least another year…..and probably 2 or 3 – he’s worked as a coach in multiple areas for an MLB team that was known for teaching and stressing fundaments. Tony La Russa is a HOF manager and he couldn’t get the ML players to play committed, smart, fundamental baseball. You look at the Sox minor league system that see they don’t develop many good players in their system; nor do those players come up disciplined and prepared to play winning baseball as say those with the Orioles (to go to the other and of the spectrum).
It’s going to take Mr. Getz years to implement and refine new baseball philosophies to get the parasites working for the Sox (in administrative positions, coaching, players, etc.) out of the organization, and slowly find young people to come in that can and take on the responsibilities and grow with the new administration.
This is not rotisserie league. You don’t just take someone out, plug someone in, and instantly have improvement…or not. We’re talking corporate culture, processes, and human beings here.
Id buy all of that if Grifol did not say that he realized, after 2/3 of the season of mediocre results, that the locker room was lacking leadership and that he would need to do something about that.. and said this only AFTER guys like Middleton called it out publicly… Grifol is a joke… a Ventura 2.0. Never mind the horrendous results AFTER he made such a statement. I get one can never say ‘never’, but Ill say its HIGHLY unlikely for Grifol to be here next season and expect different results.
Why is he even commenting about changes he’s “going” to make?
You make no comments.
You make changes.
You comment.
Please for the love of God, FIRE Cashman and Boone.
Clean house-101 losses is not acceptable in MLB
“Unfortunately, this is a game that’s predicated on wins and losses.” So, why does Pedro get to stay?
Craig Albernaz? I was afraid of this. I knew as soon as Francona retired the FO would renew that cycle of hiring rookie managers who are replaced every 3 years. That worked so well in the past. Who is Albernaz? As Guy Woodhouse would say, “He’s a Charlie Nobody, that’s who he is!!!”
Cashman should be shown the door or a “promotion” (more likely) and get better talent evaluators in that role or at least someone who has won something recently or shown some prowess in that regard. Continuing with Cashman will ensure more Rodon type signings and Donaldson type trades. Both, unnecessary and examples of recent failures. Both seem like great guys, but one in severe decline and the other had a career year in a pitchers park, never touched 200IP and a lengthy injury history.
Albernaz is not getting this job. Venable is the next manager of the Cleveland Guardians with small outside chance of Chris Woordward with an even smaller chance of Troy Snitker. I also would like to see Joe Espada given an interview. This has to be an outside hire.. also keep an eye on Antonetti leaving,, possibly for Boston,
Does anyone else think the Guardians should give Sandy Alomar Jr. a chance? At least an interview for that matter. He has baseball experience as a catcher and knows the Cleveland organization through and through.
A “former offer?” MLBTR needs to hire an editor.
Here’s the conversation that needs to take place the next time Yankee ownership meets:
– Fire everyone.
– Everyone?
– EEEEEEEEEEEEEVERYYYYYYYYYYYYYYONE!!!
Why is Sandy Alomar Jr.’s name not mentioned as a candidate?
Sandy Alomar is not going to interview. He has no reason to do an interview. While it might be unusual, if Cleveland front office doesn’t know him by now, ….
If they want him to interview, he is not getting the position.