Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — Seattle’s reset has a new face, and it’s a bold one.
The Mariners named Jason Kanzler their new manager on Tuesday. Kanzler, who had been the Chicago Cubs’ director of player development, replaces Dan Wilson, whom Seattle let go at the end of a 76-86 season. It is the first managerial hire of the offseason.
An Unconventional Choice
Kanzler has never managed at any level. At 36, he becomes the second-youngest manager in the majors, older only than Washington’s Blake Butera.
His background is in coaching and development. He coached in the Astros’ farm system before joining Houston’s major league staff in 2022 and serving as assistant hitting coach in 2023. The Cubs hired him in 2024 to run their player development operation.
Former Astros manager Joe Espada was reportedly the other finalist — a far more experienced option that Seattle passed on.
What Dipoto Saw
“Jason has the mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to help create a championship standard here in Seattle,” president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said.
Kanzler said he was thrilled to join the organization and is looking forward to “hitting the ground running.”
Why a Hitting Background Matters
The hire fits the diagnosis behind Seattle’s overhaul. The Mariners’ offense collapsed in 2026, falling to .233/.314/.379 with a 102 wRC+ after a 113 wRC+ the year before, and the club fired hitting coach Kevin Seitzer along with three other coaches. A manager rooted in hitting development and modern player development is a logical response.
There is precedent for the gamble: the Yankees hired Aaron Boone in 2018 with no prior managerial or coaching experience.
Dipoto’s Third Manager
Kanzler is only the third manager since Dipoto took over baseball operations in 2015, following Scott Servais and Wilson. That gives the hire extra weight: Dipoto’s managers tend to stay, and he kept his own job after a season that went badly wrong. One year removed from Game 7 of the ALCS, Seattle has bet its reset on a first-time skipper.
The Read
This is a high-upside, high-risk move. Kanzler brings energy and a development background to a team whose young hitters need to get better. But with no managing experience, his learning curve will come in the middle of a pivotal season for Seattle’s front office.
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