2:47PM: The Nationals also conducted interviews with both Cairo and Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz within the last week, the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden reports. Albernaz has been a candidate for managerial vacancies with the Giants, Guardians, White Sox, and Marlins over the last two years, and was a finalist for both the Chicago and Miami jobs.
Albernaz worked as Cleveland’s bench coach in 2024 before moving into his current job title this season. Before arriving in Cleveland, Albernaz spent four years on the Giants’ staff as a bullpen/catching coach, and four seasons in various roles in the Rays’ minor league system (including two managerial stints).
2:24PM: Brandon Hyde has interviewed with the Nationals about the team’s managerial vacancy, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Hyde becomes the first known candidate for the manager’s job, as Washington’s first order of business was its search for new front office boss.
Paul Toboni has now had a month as president of baseball operations. The Nats haven’t formally ruled out retaining interim manager Miguel Cairo, but it appears likelier that Toboni will want to hire his own replacement. He’s already begun reshaping the front office, including tabbing Justin Horowitz as an assistant general manager on Friday afternoon.
Hyde is plenty familiar with the Beltway after managing in Baltimore for parts of seven seasons. The O’s won 46.1% of games during Hyde’s tenure, though that’s largely weighed down by the full rebuild in which they were mired for the first three years. Hyde led the O’s to three consecutive winning seasons, including playoff berths in 2023 and ’24. Baltimore didn’t find any playoff success in either of those years but went into this season expecting to compete in the AL East.
A terrible start tanked those plans by April. The O’s were 15-28 when they fired Hyde on May 17. Baltimore played roughly .500 ball the rest of the way under Tony Mansolino. Hyde has been clear that he hopes to find another managerial opportunity. He was very loosely tied to the Giants’ and Angels’ searches that respectively landed on Tony Vitello and Kurt Suzuki. It’s not clear if Hyde ever interviewed for either position, though Heyman writes that he has had interviews beyond the sit-down with Washington.
At least he wouldn’t have to move.
Shoot getting to DC from Baltimore anymore you almost need to get a hotel halfway through.
Lives in Venice Florida
He was canned in May. Do you think he stayed in Baltimore?
would you really want to make the drive everyday from Baltimore?
it’s possible he lives somewhere in between like in Howard County. I mean, would you live in Balmer if you didn’t have to?
Hyde’s a forward thinker. Maybe he’d been commuting from DC to Baltimore for the last seven years, just in case he’d eventually get an offer with the Nationals.
Would you really want to live in Baltimore? Charm city or not, I would not want to live there.
Hyde your kids Hyde your wife
Go Jay’s: )
Who is Albernaz? When compared to Brandon Hyde?
Yes, who is he? We would love to keep him in Cleveland. I would love that people would forget about him.
Hahahaha
@debubba
Albernaz is not as beloved as you might think. Beyond that, given some of the issues Vogt has had tactically over his tenure, it might not be the worst thing to see the “Associate Manager” mosey on down the highway.
Examples please?
That is a stupid comment, Avory. How would you know if he’s beloved or not? By all accounts he’s a manager-in-waiting and well-respected across baseball. The players love him and he’s the right hand man of Vogt, who should get the BBWAA Manager of the Year Award for the second straight year. And what kind of tactical issues are you referring to for Vogt? He had just about the worst offensive team in the league and they won the Central.
There have been many questionable lineup and pitching decisions over the last two years and most people have concentrated on the playoffs because it’s a heightened atmosphere, but they’ve happened in the regular season as well. Vogt is an excellent motivator and his leadership qualities are obvious, but the bantam rooster at his side who should be helping him with the tactical side of the game (that’s his job, after all) has been found wanting. Game management isn’t the most important part of Vogt’s job, but it could use some help. Albernaz’s presence hasn’t improved the decisionmaking, whether it’s to try and steal or not, move along the runners or not, pitch to a hitter or not, whether to leave in a pitcher or not, who to trust or not, whether to go with offense over defense, just the basics haven’t been sharp and frankly, that’s what Craig’s here to help with. So I say let him try his thing elsewhere. And if he doesn’t have a “thing,” why does he even have the title of Associate Manager?
I am curious though, how exactly do you know that Vogt’s enforcer is “loved by the players”? I’ve really not heard anything of the sort…perhaps you can enlighten me.
Hey, hadn’t refreshed MLBTR before making my comment. No need to angrily reply to my post now…I’m pleased we’ll have a different voice at Vogt’s elbow going forward and we’ll get to see the Albernaz “magic” in Baltimore!
From Jeff Passan, not me:
– The Baltimore Orioles on Monday hired Craig Albernaz as their new manager, tabbing one of the game’s most well-respected young coaches to help engineer a turnaround after a disappointing 2025.
– Albernaz’s ability to connect with players was a hallmark of his time in San Francisco and Cleveland — and was part of the allure for an Orioles team filled with young talent.
– And Albernaz, who, in his previous coaching jobs, forged strong relationships with younger players and was leaned on for a baseball sense honed by years behind the plate, leaped to the top of the list in Baltimore.
Thank you for sharing Passan’s reporting. Well, we shall certainly see! It’s not like Albernaz is taking over a team bereft of talent. Most had the Orioles well ahead of the Blue Jays coming into 2025, so this won’t be a job Craig can ease into with low expectations. Let’s see if he can forge those “connections” he’s apparently so famous for!
I just wish the streaming services would take over sooner than later and save the Nationals from a shadow like identity with their fanbase. These players are awesome. Watching the greatness of James Woods years click by in an empty stadium is absolutely heart breaking.
James Woods parents live 3 houses up the street from me
James woods’ parents live 3 houses down the street from me, he actually visited my daughter’s school last year