The Seattle Mariners have hired Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, the team announced Tuesday. Kanzler, 36, becomes the second-youngest manager in Major League Baseball, behind only Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera, 34.
The move comes after a disappointing 2026 season in which the Mariners went 76-86 and finished five games back in the AL West. Seattle fired manager Dan Wilson after the season. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the goal was finding a manager with the ability to challenge the organization to improve, citing Kanzler's mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity.
Kanzler has no prior managerial experience at any level, a rare but not unprecedented move. The New York Yankees hired Aaron Boone straight from broadcasting in 2018 with similar lack of experience. Kanzler previously served as a major-league coach with the Houston Astros in 2022 and assistant hitting coach in 2023, and oversaw player development for the Cubs in 2024.
Former Astros manager Joe Espada was reportedly the other finalist for the job. The Mariners entered 2026 as a trendy World Series pick after reaching Game 7 of the ALCS in 2025, but core hitters underperformed. Kanzler will be the third manager under Dipoto since 2015, following Scott Servais (2015-24) and Wilson (2024-26).
