Rocco Baldelli was a candidate to become the Mariners’ next manager, but the former Twins skipper withdrew from the search due to “family considerations,” Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. The news leaves former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler as the only two known candidates remaining for the job, although other unknown names are said to be in the mix.
The Mariners are apparently “at an advanced stage” in the hiring process, as Rosenthal, Chandler Rome and Patrick Mooney said earlier this week. If Baldelli was Seattle’s preferred pick, that could delay things if the team were to turn to a second pick. Former manager Dan Wilson announced before the Mariners’ final game that he would not return in 2027, so the team’s search for a new skipper has officially been underway for nearly a full month. (Given that the Mariners’ disappointing season made Wilson’s departure increasingly likely, upper management was likely beginning to make plans well before Wilson’s announcement.)
President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has hinted that hiring an experienced manager would be his preference this time around, rather than a first-time MLB skipper like previous signings Wilson or Scott Servais. Beyond Baldelli and Espada, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was reportedly on the Mariners’ radar before Arizona re-signed Lovullo, and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt (who is under contract in Cleveland) made a point of publicly stating he was staying put.
If experience remains a priority for Dipoto, that would seemingly give Espada the edge over Kanzler. This is purely speculative on my part, but the M’s could consider hiring both, with Espada as manager and Kanzler as bench coach or another coaching role. Prior to his current position with the Cubs, Kanzler spent five seasons in the Houston organization, the last two of those seasons working with Espada on the Astros coaching staff. Then again, given how Seattle has managed to keep this manager hunt relatively secret, a number of mystery candidates could be higher on the team’s wish list.
Baldelli led the Twins to three AL Central titles and a 527-505 record over seven seasons as the team’s manager, including one playoff victory (a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays in the 2023 Wild Card Series). After that success in 2023, a September collapse cost the Twins another playoff appearance in 2024, and the team then slumped to a 70-92 record in 2025. The front office engaged in an extensive fire sale at that year’s trade deadline, and Baldelli was fired at the end of the season.
In the aftermath of the firing, Baldelli said he hoped to get by again and did not close the door on immediately returning to the dugout with a new team in 2026. However, he noted that “I owe my family some time“, which may be why he opted for a front office assistant role with the Dodgers. The Nationals and Angels reportedly tapped Baldelli for their vacant managerial positions last offseason, but it’s unclear if Baldelli actually interviewed with either club.
Gn sports
