Seattle taps 36-year-old Kansler to lead Mariners after wild ride

The Seattle Mariners have installed a first-time manager to steady the ship after a season that ended in steep disappointment. On Tuesday, the team named Jason Kanzler, the Chicago Cubs director of player development, as its new skipper. The hiring decision marks a sharp turn for the franchise, which entered the year as a favorite and finished well out of contention.

Seattle had a turbulent year. The club went 76-86 and ended the regular season five games behind the leader in the American League West. This result followed a dramatic 2025 campaign where the team reached the seventh game of the American League Championship Series. In that final series, the Mariners were five outs away from their first World Series appearance. The contrast between those two seasons left the front office seeking a change in leadership.

Kanzler is 36 years old and has never managed a team at any level of professional baseball. He will be the second-youngest manager in the league, behind only Blake Butera of the Washington Nationals, who is 34. Jerry Dipoto, the president of baseball operations, said the search focused on finding someone who could push the entire organization to get better. Dipoto noted that Kanzler possesses the mindset and communication skills needed to establish a championship standard in Seattle.

While Kanzler lacks managerial experience, he has spent time on major league coaching staffs. He served as a coach with the Houston Astros in 2022 and as their assistant hitting coach in 2023. The Cubs hired him in 2024 to oversee player development. Dipoto's search also considered Joe Espada, the former Astros manager, who was reportedly the other finalist for the position.

This is the third manager the Mariners have employed since Dipoto took over baseball operations in September 2015. Scott Servais managed the team from 2015 to 2024, and Dan Wilson took over for the 2024 and 2025 seasons before being fired after this year's campaign. Hiring a manager with no previous behind-the-bumpers experience is uncommon, though the New York Yankees made a similar move in 2018 when they hired Aaron Boone directly from a broadcasting role.

Kanzler expressed excitement about joining the organization. He said the team has talent across all areas of the game and that he is eager to work with his coaching staff to unlock that potential. The new manager will begin his tenure with the goal of stabilizing a clubhouse that just missed the playoffs by a wide margin.