The Mariners made several changes during the first week of their offseason. Manager Dan Wilson will not return. The club left four other coaches. One person who will stay in place is president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. The CEO received the seal of approval from Chairman John Stanton earlier this week.
Stanton sat down for an interview with Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. He praised the draft, player development and health of the organization during Dipoto’s tenure.
“All of these things have led me to believe that Jerry is the right person to lead the baseball organization.” Stanton said. “But we needed a new manager, and this manager would work for him. But he would be responsible for winning that championship at the major league level..”
Dipoto took over as Seattle’s general manager near the end of the 2015 season. He was promoted to POBO in 2021. Dipoto immediately put together an 86-win season in his first year in charge. Seattle ended a decades-long playoff drought in 2022. The Mariners reached the ALCS last season for the first time since 2001. The club won 90 games for the third time in the last six years.
The 2026 campaign did not go as planned. The defending AL West champions played .500 ball for most of the season. It was enough to keep them in the playoff race in a watered-down American League, but Seattle faded in the second half. The team went 28-37 after the All-Star Break and finished third in the division.
The Mariners have had very little manager turnover since Dipoto took over. He hired Scott Servais in 2016. Servais spent eight years at the helm before handing over to Wilson during the 2024 season. Stanton confirmed that Dipoto “lead the process” to find a new manager. The organization is reportedly looking for an experienced skipper.
While the managerial search is a priority, the Mariners will also be looking for a new left fielder. Free agent Randy Arozarena should test the market. Jude reiterated that point in an article today outlining the reasons why the outfielder won’t be back with the club. That included a comment from Dipoto during Monday’s press conference, seemingly hinting at the team’s plans.
“Obviously we have free agents coming in” Dipoto said.We have to fill those holes, and they’re not small holes to fill, especially Randy in left field, but we’re excited about our young players..”
Arozarena ranked No. 4 in the final edition of our free agent power rankings. He had a tremendous season in his final year with Seattle, posting a 151 wRC+ with 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases. Arozarena scored a career-high 113 points as a key catalyst in the Mariners’ lineup.
As for Arozarena’s landing spot, Jude notes that he prefers to play on the East Coast. The veteran spent the majority of his career in Tampa Bay before being traded to Seattle before the 2024 trade deadline. Arozarena lives in Tampa and wants to join a team that spring practices in Florida, according to Jude. Seattle can offer Arozarena a qualifying offer and will receive compensation for his draft pick if he declines, which is the most likely scenario.
Photo courtesy of Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images
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