Four potential managerial candidates for Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are officially looking for a new manager.

Dan Wilson will not return in 2027 after two seasons at the helm, ending a tenure that included an ALCS run in 2025 but a disappointing 76-86 finish this season. Seattle entered the season with World Series expectations before missing the playoffs entirely.

Wilson was a first-time manager when Seattle promoted him in 2024, following Scott Servais. Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander are expected to remain in their respective front office roles, meaning the Mariners could look for a manager who brings a different level of experience to the dugout.

Here are four candidates that could be in play for the role.

Torey Lovullo

The 61-year-old has spent the past 10 seasons managing the Arizona Diamondbacks and owns a 750-768 record during that span. He led Arizona to two playoff appearances, including the 2023 World Series, and won the National League Manager of the Year award in 2017.

Lovullo's contract with Arizona expires after this season, making him potentially available without Seattle needing to pry him away from Arizona. The Diamondbacks finished 86-76 this season, two games behind Philadelphia for the NL's final wild-card spot.

There is also a Seattle connection. Lovullo played 36 games for the Mariners in 1994 before beginning his coaching and managerial career.

Joe Espada

The 51-year-old has managed the Houston Astros for the past three seasons after spending six years as the club's bench coach. He previously worked in the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees organizations.

Espada led Houston to AL West titles in 2024 and this season and has gone 256-229 as a major league manager. 

Rocco Baldelli

The 44-year-old managed the Minnesota Twins for six seasons, compiling a 527-505 record and winning three AL Central titles. He also won AL Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading Minnesota to 101 victories in his first season as a manager.

This year, Baldelli was a special assistant to the president of baseball operations with the Los Angeles Dodgers after leaving Minnesota.

His playing career and subsequent work in baseball operations also give him experience beyond the dugout. Baldelli was a first-round pick in 2000 and spent six of his seven major league seasons with Tampa Bay before later working in the Rays' front office and coaching staff.

Brandon Hyde

Hyde is another former Manager of the Year who could bring a different perspective to Seattle.

The 52-year-old managed the Baltimore Orioles for more than six seasons before being fired in May 2025. He took over during Baltimore's rebuilding period and eventually led the Orioles to two playoff appearances and an AL East title.

Hyde won AL Manager of the Year in 2023 after Baltimore went 101-61 and earned the top seed in the American League.

He is currently serving as a senior advisor in baseball operations with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Before managing Baltimore, he served as the Chicago Cubs' bench coach and first base coach, including during the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship season.