It only took four words for Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to shut down rumors of his departure from the American League Central champions.

Speaking to reporters during Cleveland's end-of-season news conference on Thursday, just three days after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays and being eliminated from the American League Championship Series, Vogt was asked about the rumors that connected him to the open managerial spot with the Seattle Mariners. 

Vogt made it clear he wasn't heading to the Pacific Northwest or anywhere else.

"I'll be in Cleveland," he said. 

Stephen Vogt made it clear he isn't leaving Guardians for Mariners

Vogt spent a season as the bullpen coach for the Mariners before taking the reins in Cleveland ahead of the 2024 campaign. Vogt also has ties to the Seattle area because he and his family have lived in Washington's state capitol, Olympia, for the last 19 years. His wife, Alyssa, also has extended family in the region as well.

On the surface, there are reasons why Vogt would be tied to the current opening in Seattle. As the rumors started to gain traction, MLB writers tried to rationalize how Vogt could leave Cleveland for Seattle. 

However, Vogt is still under contract with the Guardians through the 2027 season and beyond, so Cleveland would have either had to have torn up Vogt's contract or figured out a way to make a trade with the Mariners for his services.

Those were both extreme long shots to begin with, and now Vogt has made clear all of the "what ifs" and "what mights" that have been stirred up in recent days can be put to rest.

Since replacing Terry Francona after the 2023 season, Vogt has won two AL Manager of the Year awards, three consecutive AL Central titles, and paced the Guardians to two ALCS appearances.

While Vogt has said he will return next season, it also appears he will bring back the entire Cleveland coaching staff as well. Guardians president Chris Antonetti and Vogt confirmed on Thursday that the staff would stay intact unless another team plucks one of them for their own this offseason.