CLEVELAND, Ohio — The old saying goes if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.
The same applies in baseball — build a better infrastructure of coaches and front office employees, and the world of bats and balls will beat a path to your door.
The AL Central champion Guardians have already lost hitting coach Chris Valaika to the Reds, farm director Robert Cerfolio to the Cardinals and Kevin Tenebaum, vice president of research and development, to the Pirates.
Now they could lose bench Craig Albernaz, who reportedly interviewed with the Marlins this week for their vacant manager’s job.
Albernaz interviewed for the Guardians’ managerial vacancy following the departure of Terry Francona following the 2023 season. The Guardians hired Stephen Vogt instead, but were impressed enough with Albernaz to hire as a big league coach.
The Marlins, according to the Miami Herald, have interviewed Albernaz, Dodger first base coach Clayton McCullough and Detroit bench coach George Lombard this week to replace Skip Schumaker. McCullough interviewed for Cleveland’s managerial after the 2023 season.
Albernaz and Vogt, former catchers, played together in the Rays minor league system. When the Guardians orginally hired Albernaz, he was named major league field coordinator. When bench coach DeMarlo Hale left to join Toronto’s coaching staff on Nov. 27, 2023, Albernaz was named bench coach and Kai Correa was named major league field coordinator.
Albernaz played nine years in the minors, eight with the Rays and one with the Tigers. He reached Triple-A with the Rays, but never made the big leagues.
Peter Bendix, a Cleveland Height native, is the president of baseball operations for the Marlins. He worked for the Rays from 2009 through 2023 and knows Albernaz.