Former Cy Young winner could become Cleveland Guardians next pitching coach

As Carl Willis considers retirement, who could succeed him as the pitching coach of the Cleveland Guardians?

Apr 14, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (right) talks with pitching coach Carl Willis (left) during the third inning against the at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken/Imagn Images | Peter G. Aiken

Legendary Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis is reportedly pondering retirement.

The Guardians could potentially look to two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to replace him, should Willis decide to hang it up.

Willis rejoined the Cleveland organization in 2017 following Mickey Callaway's departure for the New York Mets. In his eight seasons since, he continued to push Cleveland's reputation as a pitching factory forward and was seemingly always able to turn borderline pitchers into bona fide stars and is perhaps the most underrated position coach across MLB.

Kluber was maybe the most Cleveland pitcher of the 2010s, pitching to an ERA of 3.16, and amassing close to 1,500 strikeouts in his nine years in a Cleveland uniform. Not to mention his two Cy Young victories in 2014 and 2017, and top ten finishes in '15, 16, and '18.

With his icy cold stare and his emotionless demeanor on the mound, which earned him the nickname "Klubot," perhaps no pitcher electrified Progressive Field like Kluber.

During Cleveland's World Series run in 2016, Kluber further cemented his status as a Cleveland baseball legend. He made six starts in those MLB Playoffs and covered thirty four innings, pitching to a minuscule 1.83 ERA.

Following Cleveland's decision to trade him to the Texas Rangers, in 2019 (which in return landed Cleveland an All-Star closer named Emmanuel Clase) Kluber bounced around between the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. Kluber ultimately called it a career following the 2023 season.

Then after a year away from the game, Kluber made his triumphant return to Cleveland in May, joining the coaching staff as a "special assistant." Most recently, he was seen chatting with former Indians catcher Yan Gomes in a 2016 battery reunion before the first pitch of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers.

Corey Kluber and Yan Gomes, chatting like it’s 2016 all over again. pic.twitter.com/VvLYowWygp

— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 1, 2025

Now that Willis seems like he may not return, adding the 39-year-old Kluber to the staff seems less like a symbolic reunion and more like a calculated plan.

The front office likely knew that the 64-year-old Willis was on the fence about returning following the 2025 campaign and wanted to use the opportunity to get Kluber up to speed, so he could take over in 2026. As coincidence would have it, Willis came to Cleveland and coached Kluber in the same year where he won his second Cy Young.

If there is anyone who could be hand picked by this organization to continue churning out pitchers, why not make it someone who learned from Willis himself.