Speaking on the MLB Network on Tuesday, Wilson talked about what he learned from his old skipper, who was a former Manager of the Year himself.
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson finished third in the American League Manager of the Year voting on Tuesday night, losing out to Stephen Vogt (Cleveland Guardians) and finishing just behind John Schneider (Toronto Blue Jays).
Vogt is the former M's bullpen coach (2023).
Before the awards were given out, Wilson joined the MLB Network crew and reflected on what he learned about managing from Lou Piniella, who did win a Manager of the Year Award with the Mariners in 2001. Piniella managed Wilson for much of his playing career in Seattle.
I've talked with Lou a lot, especially these last couple of months, and can't thank him enough for the mentorship and the help that he has spoken into it. And, I think the thing about Lou, that we all loved and we all appreciated and we all respected was his desire to win, and desire to win every night. And he managed that way. And hopefully that's something that our guys understand: is the importance of the game tonight and being ready at 7 o'clock to take the field and get after it.
About Piniella
One of the more charismatic managers in baseball history, Piniella spent 23 years with the New York Yankees, Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Chicago Cubs. He spent 10 years in Seattle, helping the Mariners make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history (1995), and he took them to the ALCS in 2000 and 2001. In total, he won 840 games in Seattle and is in the team Hall of Fame.
About the 2025 Mariners
Wilson helped lead the Mariners to a 90-72 record and the first American League West title for the organization since 2001. He was praised for his clubhouse leadership, his clubhouse culture and his even-keel personality, and he helped the team overcome serious injury losses to Victor Robles, Ryan Bliss, Luke Raley, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Bryce Miller at various points.
Now the real challenge...
Wilson got the benefit of the doubt for being a first-year manager in 2025, but the Mariners will enter 2026 with real expectations after advancing to the ALCS this season. How Wilson handles those expectations, and how he evolves after 2025, will be major storylines to watch moving forward.
Right now, the M's have work to do on the player personnel front, as they need to re-sign or replace Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco and Eugenio Suarez in the lineup.
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