The Mariners moved on from Dan Wilson on Sunday and will now start the steps to replace him.
On Sunday, the Seattle Mariners made the decision to move on from manager Dan Wilson after two-plus seasons at the helm.
Despite the poor 2026 season that saw them go 76-86, Wilson did have overall success in the position, becoming one of just three Mariners managers to finish over .500 in his tenure, and joining Lou Piniella as only the second skipper in team history to get to the American League Championship Series.
Now, the Mariners will attempt to put 2026 behind them and they'll work on finding a new manager over the next few weeks. Speaking on Monday at T-Mobile Park, Jerry Dipoto said that the search for a new manager will be exhaustive, and they'll work to get back to the standard of what it means to be a Mariners player.
Dipoto also indicated that manager with prior experience is preferred, but it's not a requirement.
So, what qualities are the M's looking for?
Well, just reading the tea leaves, it seems like the Mariners are looking for a manager that is a bit more of a stickler than Wilson was. I discussed further on the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast.
Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander talk to the media prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports"I use a bit of an analogy here. I was doing radio in New England....
Bruce Cassidy was the coach of the Boston Bruins. He was a good coach there. He had taken the Bruins recently to the Stanley Cup Finals. Now, they lost, I believe, in game 6 or 7, but he had taken the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals.
He was a hardliner. He was a stickler. And they were really good. But ultimately, I think that persona kind of grated on guys, and they got rid of him, and they brought in Jim Montgomery, who was seen as a much more player-friendly guy, much looser. And then I think Jim Montgomery lasted a year or two, and then I think they went back to a hard-line guy, if I'm remembering correctly.
So, there was this pendulum or riding the wave where, 'okay, we have a stickler, we have a guy who provides some levity, we have a stickler again.'
I think the Mariners are heading for a manager that's more of a stickler this time around. Scott Servais, detail-oriented, process-oriented, kind of a meddler, kind of a micromanager. Dan Wilson, really, really hands-off. I think we're headed for a guy who's hands-on again."
What are the names we are hearing?
So far, there are plenty of names being thrown around, but the one that has the most traction so far is Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lovullo is a free agent at the end of this season and there is no indication that the team is going to give him an extension.
He's been in Arizona for 10 years. He's only made the playoffs twice, but he did go to the World Series in 2023.
Of note
The newest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, talking more about Wilson's exit, the coaching staff changes, and Jerry Dipoto's press conference. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
