11:03 am CT: Seattle confirmed Jason Kanzler as the club’s next skipper.
“Our aim was to find a leader who can push us to improve,” Dipoto said. “Kanzler brings the mindset, expertise, communication and intensity needed to build a championship culture in Seattle.“
10:41 am CT: Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports the Mariners have tapped Jason Kanzler as their new manager, succeeding Dan Wilson.
Kanzler steps into his first managerial role after serving as a minor‑league hitting coach in the Astros system (2019‑2021) and joining the major‑league staff in 2022‑23. He has been the Cubs’ director of player development since 2024.
At 36, he becomes the league’s second‑youngest skipper, behind Nationals’ 34‑year‑old Blake Butera.
“I’m excited to join Seattle and hit the ground running,” Kanzler said. “This roster brims with talent, and my staff and I can unlock its full potential.“
For my money, Dipoto’s perfect‑track record shows he knows how to spot fresh talent. Kanzler differs from past hires; Servais was a former player‑executive and Wilson a franchise icon turned broadcaster.
Seattle logged 90 wins in 2025, capturing the AL West and pushing the Blue Jays to seven games in the ALCS before falling short of the World Series. The 2026 campaign begins with most of that championship core intact.
Last season was a disappointment, as Seattle finished ten games under .500 in a weak AL West, prompting the move on Wilson after just over two years. Kanzler now faces the task of reviving the club and making the division competitive again. Can he deliver a turnaround and put Seattle back on the postseason map?