Seattle filled its managerial vacancy on November 3, as the club went in a different direction after having franchise icon Dan Wilson in charge for parts of two seasons. The new manager will be former Minor League and Cubs front office member Jason Kanzler.

Seattle hires Cubs’ Kanzler

Per reports (h/t MLB.com and the Seattle Times), the Mariners are bringing in Jason Kanzler to take over as club manager. Kanzler was the Cubs’ director of player development, marking yet another example of teams hiring from the front office to take over as bench boss.

Last year, the Nationals hired then-Rays farm director Blake Butera to take over as team manager. And this past June, the Mets shifted Andy Green from player development to interim manager, before Green signed on to become the permanent head of state.

Kanzler had a short Minor League playing career. The Twins drafted him out of SUNY Buffalo in 2013, and he played in parts of three seasons in the organization, ultimately capping out at High-A.

He will replace Dan Wilson, who spent parts of two seasons with the Mariners as manager before he was relieved of his duties at the end of 2026.

Other names linked to the Mariners’ job were Joe Espada, reportedly a finalist, and former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli pulled out of the search last month.

Seattle became the first team to fill a managerial vacancy this fall. The Astros and Angels still have one as of September 3.

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