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Five New MLB Managers Announced In San Francisco, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington Ahead of 2026 Season

Matt TallariniNov 7, 20256 MIN READ
Five New MLB Managers Announced In San Francisco, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Washington Ahead of 2026 Season

There will be new managers in the dugout for the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves for the 2026 Major League Baseball season.

Most of these managers bring experience from international competition and have developed player pipeline programs throughout their coaching careers at both professional and collegiate levels.

Tony Vitello Named San Francisco Giants’ 40th Manager

The 47-year-old from St. Louis, Mo., signed a three-year contract with the Giants reportedly worth $3.5 million annually, with a vesting option for a fourth year. The deal includes the organization paying the $3 million buyout on his previous contract with the University of Tennessee.

Vitello had signed a five-year extension with Tennessee in August 2024 that ran through 2029, making him the highest-paid coach in college baseball with a $3 million annual salary.

That contract included a $3 million buyout clause if he left for another job in 2026, prior to being hired by San Francisco.

Vitello replaced Bob Melvin, who managed San Francisco for two seasons and finished the 2025 campaign 81-81, third in the National League West.

At Tennessee, Vitello guided the Volunteers to their first national title in 2024, defeating Texas A&M in the NCAA Division I College World Series. His squad was the first No. 1-ranked team in the nation to win a national championship since Miami in 1999, finishing with a 60-13 record.

Vitello’s accolades include SEC regular-season titles in 2022 and 2025, SEC Tournament championships in 2022 and 2024, and numerous coaching honors: ABCA Coach of the Year (2024), NCBWA Coach of the Year (2021), Perfect Game Coach of the Year (2021, 2022), and SEC Coach of the Year (2022).

He previously served as an assistant at Missouri (2003-10), TCU (2011-13), and Arkansas (2014-17). Vitello becomes the first individual to move directly from the college ranks to an MLB managerial job without prior professional coaching experience.

Craig Albernaz Hired As Baltimore Orioles Manager

Craig Albernaz was named the 21st manager in Orioles history on Oct. 27 after the team finished last in the American League East with a 75-87 record under Brandon Hyde. Contract details have not yet been disclosed.

The 43-year-old from Fall River, Mass., was Cleveland’s bench coach in 2024 and 2025 and previously worked as San Francisco’s bullpen and catching coach from 2020 through 2023.

Albernaz began coaching in 2015, working for the rookie-level Princeton Rays before moving through the Tampa Bay Rays’ system. He managed Hudson Valley, Bowling Green, and was named 2018 Midwest League Manager of the Year. In 2019, he served as a minor league field coordinator before joining the majors.

Blake Butera Named Washington Nationals Manager

Blake Butera was hired Oct. 31 as the eighth manager in Nationals franchise history.

At 33, he becomes the youngest MLB manager since Frank Quilici led the Twins in 1972.

Butera began managing at age 25 with the Hudson Valley Renegades in the Rays’ organization, then managed Charleston in 2021 and 2022, winning two league titles and consecutive Manager of the Year awards. He later served as Tampa Bay’s assistant field coordinator in 2023 and senior director of player development in 2024.

Butera has international experience as a quality control coach for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican winter league (2020-21) and the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League (2019-20). He was also bench coach for Italy under Hall of Famer Mike Piazza at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Italy advanced to the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Dome.

The Metairie, La., native, drafted by Tampa Bay in 2015, takes over a Nationals team that went 66-96 in 2025, finishing fifth in the NL East for the fifth time in six years. Washington dismissed 2019 World Series champion Dave Martinez in July and parted ways with interim manager Miguel Cairo after the season.

Atlanta Braves Promote Walt Weiss To Manager

Atlanta announced the promotion of bench coach Walt Weiss to manager on Nov. 3, naming him the 49th in franchise history. Weiss replaces 2021 World Series champion Brian Snitker after the Braves went 76-86 in 2025, finishing fourth in the NL East.

Weiss, 61, from Tuxedo, N.Y., has served as Atlanta’s bench coach since 2017. The Braves also announced new additions to the staff — Jeremy Hefner as pitching coach and Antoan Richardson as first base coach.

Weiss previously managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013-16, compiling a 283-365 record. He played 14 MLB seasons with Oakland (1987-92), Florida (1993), Colorado (1994-97), and Atlanta (1998-2000). After retiring, he worked as an instructor and front-office advisor with Colorado from 2002 to 2008.

San Diego Padres Hire Craig Stammen As Manager

The Padres announced the hiring of former right-handed reliever Craig Stammen on Nov. 6. Stammen’s three-year contract has not yet been finalized financially.

San Diego will formally introduce Stammen as the 24th manager in franchise history on Nov. 10 at Petco Park. He replaces Mike Shildt, who retired Oct. 13, 2025, before his contract extension through 2027 began.

Shildt led San Diego to consecutive 90-win seasons and a 183-141 record, including a postseason berth in 2024, marking the first time a Padres manager achieved back-to-back 90-win campaigns.

Stammen, 41, from North Star, Ohio, pitched 13 seasons in the majors with Washington (2009-15) and San Diego (2017-22). He joined the Padres front office as an assistant to the major league coaching staff and baseball operations in 2024, serving two years before being promoted to manager.

As a player, Stammen made 562 appearances and 43 starts, recording a 55-44 record and 3.66 ERA with one complete game, 885 innings, 743 strikeouts, and a 1.236 WHIP.

Photo: Tony Vitello dons a baseball cap as he is introduced as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy)

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