The Seattle Mariners took an unconventional path during their offseason search for a new manager. According to Bleacher Report, a select group of veteran players helped interview candidates before the franchise filled the position.
Player Involvement in the Managerial Search
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that veteran clubhouse leaders participated in the final managerial interviews ahead of Jason Kanzler’s hiring last week. This development broke with standard Major League Baseball protocol, where players typically hold no influence over managerial appointments.
The move also contrasted with previous remarks from Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. Last month, Dipoto stated that player feedback would not be part of the formal interview process, citing potential risks.
“That remains to be seen. I think there’s also a danger zone there, but they’ll be in tune as to what we’re doing, and they will give us the feedback that is required to make sure that this is a good fit. But we’re not going to ask them to be a part of an interview process,” Dipoto said previously.
Coaching Staff and Future Outlook
Ultimately, the organization selected Kanzler over former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada, who was dismissed last month after three seasons. Kanzler arrives after working as the Chicago Cubs’ farm director and has no prior managerial experience at any level.
Alongside Kanzler, the franchise kept several coaches from the prior staff, such as pitching coach Pete Woodworth and pitching strategy director Trent Blank. The team also added CJ Gillman, who served as minor-league coordinator from 2022 to 2025, as a pitching coach, and brought in former New York Yankees catching instructor Tanner Swanson as bench coach.
The new coaching staff faces the challenge of revitalizing a Mariners organization that failed to reach the postseason in three out of the past four years.
