yahoo
The Cincinnati Reds are in the process of finding a new pitching coach, and one potential outside candidate is Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis. Willis, who has guided Cleveland's pitching staff for the past nine seasons, addressed the possibility this week after the Guardians were eliminated from the American League Championship Series by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Willis, 65, has worked on a year-to-year agreement with the Guardians, giving him the freedom to evaluate his future each offseason. "Cleveland means a lot to me. This organization has been so good to me," said Willis, who has spent 16 seasons with the franchise, including the last nine consecutively. "But I'll also tell you that Tito has been very, very good to me as well. I tell him all the time how much better he made me, just the experience I had with him, the trust he put in me."
Francona and Willis spent six seasons together in Cleveland, winning three AL Central titles. That relationship could be a decisive factor. "I can truthfully tell you: I'm not saying I would even consider it, but if I were to, he would be the reason," Willis said.
Willis has been a key part of Cleveland's pitching development, helping the team finish among the top five in American League team ERA in seven of the past nine seasons. He has worked with pitchers such as CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Corey Kluber, and Shane Bieber.
The Reds have already interviewed in-house candidates Matt Tracy and Oscar Marin for the pitching coach position and are still considering outside options. That process could accelerate now that only the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays remain in the playoffs.
Willis expressed uncertainty about whether a move to Cincinnati would be fair given his year-to-year approach. "But I don't know the best thing for me or another organization, if they were interested in pursuing that — going somewhere new knowing that you're feeling like you're kind of year-to-year, I don't know if that's fair to anybody," he said. "If that were to happen, and then all of a sudden they're back to a new potential philosophy or whatever — I'm pretty happy with where I'm at, and we'll see what happens."
Francona has one more guaranteed year left on his contract with the Reds, plus a club option for 2028. If Willis were to join, it might be reasonable to expect him to stay as long as Francona does, given their longstanding relationship and similar ages.
Key Analysis
Willis's track record and connection to Francona make him an attractive candidate for a Reds team looking to improve its pitching staff. However, his year-to-year contract situation and comfort in Cleveland could complicate any potential move. The Reds' decision may hinge on whether Willis is willing to commit beyond a single season, and whether the allure of reuniting with Francona outweighs his loyalty to the Guardians.
Originally reported by yahoo.