Mariners name Jason Kanzler manager after 76-86 season

The Seattle Mariners named Jason Kanzler their manager on November 3, replacing Dan Wilson after the team finished the 2026 season with a 76-86 record. Kanzler, 36, is the 22nd manager in franchise history and had not managed at any level before the appointment. Kanzler spent the previous three seasons as the Chicago Cubs’ director of player development, overseeing the club’s minor league system, players and coaches. He also worked on the Houston Astros’ major league coaching staff: he was a coach in 2022, when Houston won the World Series, and assistant hitting coach in 2023. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the team sought a manager who could challenge the organization to improve. He said Kanzler had the expertise and communication skills to help establish a championship standard in Seattle. General manager Justin Hollander, in remarks reported after the announcement, said Kanzler’s performance through the interview process made him the choice. Kanzler said he was excited to join Seattle and believed the roster had considerable talent to develop. He has described helping others improve as a rewarding part of his work, drawing on his experience as a...