The Seattle Mariners have named Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, the team announced Tuesday. The move comes after a disappointing 2026 season in which Seattle went 76-86 and finished five games back in the American League West.
Kanzler, 36, will be the second-youngest manager in Major League Baseball, older only than Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera, 34. He has no previous managerial experience at any level, a rare but not unprecedented move; the New York Yankees hired Aaron Boone directly from broadcasting in 2018 with similar credentials.
Kanzler's coaching background includes serving as a major-league coach with the Houston Astros in 2022 and as their assistant hitting coach in 2023, along with prior roles in the Astros' farm system. The Cubs hired him to oversee player development in 2024. Former Astros manager Joe Espada was reportedly the other finalist for the Mariners job.
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the goal was finding a manager with the ability to challenge the organization to improve. Kanzler will be the third manager since Dipoto was hired in September 2015, following Scott Servais (2015-24) and Dan Wilson (2024-26). A year ago, Seattle reached Game 7 of the ALCS and was five outs from its first World Series appearance.
