The Cleveland Guardians are facing a period of transition, marked by coaching staff adjustments and a focus on bolstering their offensive capabilities for the 2026 season [11, 18]. Craig Albernaz, the Guardians’ associate manager, is departing to join the Baltimore Orioles, leaving a void in Cleveland's coaching setup [1, 12]. Meanwhile, the team is looking to improve its offensive output after a disappointing 2025 postseason [18].
Coaching Carousel and Pitching Success
Albernaz's departure comes as Stephen Vogt, known for his potential as a future manager, builds his coaching staff [10]. Albernaz's energy and contributions were valued during challenging periods of the season [7]. The Guardians pitching staff, despite losing key players like Class A and Emmanuel Clase, showed improvement with a 3.86 ERA, ranking fourth in the American League [1]. Carl Willis will return, continuing his work with the pitching staff after a strong September showing [2]. Last year, several pitchers made significant starts, including Bybe (31), Williams (31), Allen (29), and Saccone (23) [2].
Offensive Overhaul and Roster Predictions
The Guardians struggled offensively in 2025, hitting .178 with a .575 OPS in the postseason and finishing with a .669 OPS for the full season, ranking 29th out of 30 teams [18]. Improving the outfield is a key offseason priority [18]. Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com addressed offseason topics, including potential offensive reinforcements [3]. Looking ahead to 2026, predictions are being made about the 26-man roster [13, 14]. While John Means's status remains a question mark, the team invested resources in his rehab [13]. Despite rotation depth, Means could compete for the No. 5 spot in spring training [13]. It remains a goal to determine if the young players are still improving and can overcome injuries to contend [9].
TL;DR
- Craig Albernaz is leaving the Cleveland Guardians to join the Baltimore Orioles coaching staff [1, 12].
- The Guardians' pitching staff showed improvement in 2025, despite key player losses [1].
- Cleveland aims to significantly improve their offensive performance for the 2026 season, focusing on the outfield [18].
- Roster predictions for 2026 are being discussed, with John Means's role a key question [13, 14].