People wanted significant change with the Seattle Mariners, well, this is what significant change looks like.
On Sunday, we learned that the Seattle Mariners were not bringing back manager Dan Wilson for the 2027 season.
It wasn't a surprise, as things had been trending this way for weeks. The Mariners finished the season at 76-86, missing the playoffs in a year in which they were expected to compete for a World Series title.
However, the changes didn't stop at Wilson. On Monday, the Mariners announced several additional staff changes:
Bench coach Manny Acta, infield coach Perry Hill, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and first base coach Eric Young Jr. are all out after varying tenures with the team. Acta had been with the Mariners for 11 seasons across two separate stints.
First reaction
Nothing about this totally surprises me. People wanted the Mariners to make significant changes. Well? This is what significant change looks like.
Do I think that each of these people needed to fall on the sword for the M's failures? No, but it all makes sense.
The Mariners are going to hire a new manager, who will clearly want to have his own vision of what a staff looks like. That person needs to have the freedom to craft the staff in the way that they see fit and he can't do that if he's inheriting a bunch of holdovers.
--Seitzer got to the Mariners in 2025, helping them get to the ALCS in year one. However, this year? The Mariners finished 28th in runs scored and 27th in OPS. A team that was home run dependent took major steps back.
Seattle Mariners bench coach Manny Acta (14) practices his golf swing with a bat during a Spring Training workout at Peoria Sports Complex. Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images--Hill is widely regarded as the best infield coach around, but this version of the Mariners was the worst defensive team in baseball. JP Crawford (2020) and Evan White (2020) both won Gold Gloves under his watch. It's not all his fault, of course, as Brendan Donovan played only 39 games, Crawford spent three separate stints on the injured list and Colt Emerson missed significant time as well.
--Young Jr. also worked with baserunners. The Mariners were tied for 10th in baseball in stolen bases, even despite being the slowest team in the sport. It's unclear why exactly he had to go, but again, this is what a shakeup looks like.
--Acta is a well-respected baseball man, but again, a new manager will want a new lieutentant.
Other takeaway
1) Despite the regression from the starting rotation and the bullpen, it appears that the pitching people are safe, including pitching coach Pete Woodworth.
2) Edgar Martinez is not mentioned in this release, leading us to wonder if he'll reprise his Director of Hitting role. That does not mean that he'll be involved in the day-by-day hitting processes or be at every game.
We'll wait to learn more when Jerry Dipoto meets with the media on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. PT.
