Have The Cleveland Guardians Already Found Their Next Manager?

Will Venable is a name to "keep an eye on" if Terry Francona retires as the Cleveland Guardians' manager.

It's become increasingly likely that this will be Terry Francona's final season managing the Cleveland Guardians. The skipper hasn't officially stated that he's retiring but has alluded to it on multiple occasions over the last month.

Cleveland's managerial vacancy will be one that will be sought after by potential candidates throughout the league. The Guardians have two things that make a desirable location: great young pitching and an easy path to the playoffs because of their division.

There will be a number of names that pop up and circulate in rumors over the next few months including those currently in the organization such as DeMarlo Hale and Sandy Alamar Jr., but have the Guardians already narrowed down their list?

Andre Knott of Bally Sports was on ESPN Cleveland earlier on Tuesday talking about the future including Tito's (likely) impending retirement. He mentioned an interesting name to "keep an eye on" if/when the Guardians' search for a new skipper begins.

Knott said that Will Venable could be a potential contender to succeed Francona.

Venable is a former MLB player who was a part of three organizations over his nine-year career during the 2010s. He spent most of his time as an outfielder with the San Diego Padres. The 40-year-old has spent time with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers as a coach since retiring and has prepared himself for this opportunity.

This isn't a random name to just appears out of nowhere. There's a connection to Cleveland's front office.

Venable went to Princeton University and played with current Guardians General Manager Mike Chernoff. This relationship could be enough for Cleveland to feel comfortable giving him the keys to the team's future.

Mar 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona (77) watches batting practice before a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

All of this doesn't mean that Venable is a lock to be the next manager of the Guardians. It's interesting that his name has already emerged as a candidate but a lot has to happen first. 

It's important to remember that Tito hasn't officially announced he's returning yet so all of this is pure speculation. However, watching it'll be interesting to watch how the next few months play out.