Mariners go in unexpected direction for their new manager

The Seattle Mariners have decided on their new manager, and the choice is an unconventional one, to say the least.

The Mariners plan to hire Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Kanzler, 36, beat out former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for the position.

Kanzler becomes, for now, the second-youngest manager in baseball. He has no managerial experience, though his work with the Cubs is highly regarded. He had a brief playing career in the minor leagues, spent time as a minor league hitting coach with the Astros, and spent two years on Houston’s MLB staff.

Espada appeared to be the initial favorite for the job, and was the clear choice if Seattle wanted to prioritize experience. That was seen as a possibility after the team moved on from the relatively inexperienced Dan Wilson, but the Mariners have clearly gone in the opposite direction.

The Mariners are coming off a highly disappointing 76-86 season. In addition to their coaching changes, the roster appears likely to be significantly different as well for 2027.