A name that has not gotten much run in the Mariners’ managerial conversation is David Ross, even though he’s already been brought up by ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney on Thursday’s edition of the “Refuse to Lose Territory” podcast.
Seattle has plenty of candidates in the mix for its vacant job. Brandon Hyde and Rocco Baldelli are among the familiar former managers being discussed, while Kristopher Negron is part of the group of rising assistants with ties to the Mariners. Torey Lovullo had been viewed by some as the front-runner until he re-upped with Arizona on Thursday afternoon.
Ross, though, fits the kind of profile that could make sense for the M’s.
He’s 49 and brings a long playing résumé from his 15-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Cubs. A catcher by trade, Ross spent most of his career as a backup, but his feel for the game and his presence in the room helped keep him in the majors for a decade and a half.
His playing career also included World Series rings with the 2013 Red Sox and 2016 Cubs. Then came the quick jump into managing: Chicago hired him in 2020, just four years after he retired.
Ross’ run with the Cubs lasted four seasons, and the record was 262-284. Chicago reached the postseason once, during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
He also worked through a roster that changed fast, with Anthony Rizzo sent to the Yankees in 2021, Javier Baez traded to the New York Mets and Kris Bryant dealt to the San Francisco Giants. The 2022 Cubs were in transition, and Ross still guided the club to an 83-79 finish in 2023 before the team moved on to Craig Counsell.
That background gives Ross a few clear selling points for Seattle. Jerry Dipoto has said the Mariners would value someone who has done the job before, and Ross checks that box. He has also stayed close to the modern game through his work at ESPN, and the article points out that Aaron Boone and Alex Cora made similar transitions from the booth to managing and later reached the World Series with their clubs, with Cora winning it all in 2018.
There’s also the communication piece. Ross is known as a strong clubhouse presence, and that matters for a Mariners team dealing with accountability issues.
At the same time, the fit is not perfect. Seattle is coming off a 76-86 season and needs to start fast in 2027, which raises the question of whether the club can afford the learning curve that might come with Ross returning to the job.
He’ll be 50 next season, too, so he doesn’t exactly match the younger, more innovative mold some fans are chasing.
For now, the Mariners say they plan to run an exhaustive search, and there’s no deadline on the hire. But if Seattle wants to move quickly, it may have a better shot at landing the strongest option available. The club also has several coaching openings to fill.
In Other News...
Mariners Add A Power Bat With One Roster Catch Ahead
The Mariners added a potential power bat to the organization on waivers, claiming first baseman Michael Toglia from the Cincinnati Reds, according to a team announcement. Toglia is coming off a stay on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury, and Seattle plans to place him on its own 60-day injured list to start, giving the club a low-risk way to bring in another left-handed option for the stretch run and beyond.
Toglia brings some versatility at a time when the Mariners are always looking for extra depth around first base, the corner outfield and designated hitter spots. The wrinkle is that he is out of minor league options, which means Seattle will not be able to stash him as easily once he is healthy, setting up a roster conversation that could carry into the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Have A Familiar Answer In Their Manager Search
The Mariners are again sorting through their managerial options after parting with Dan Wilson, and one familiar name is getting traction inside the conversation. Kristopher Negrn fits the kind of profile Seattle often leans toward in these searches: he knows the organization, has coaching experience, and has already spent time managing at the Triple-A level.
Jerry Dipoto has said he would prefer a manager with Major League experience, though he has not closed the door on a first-time hire, which keeps Negrn in the mix. He also has at least a small bit of big-league history in Seattle, having served as the Mariners manager for one game in 2022, and he most recently worked as the Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach, making him a known quantity in a search that still feels open-ended. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Dipotos Mariners Reset Just Got Even Harder
The Mariners have already begun reshaping the dugout, parting ways with Dan Wilson and assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes as the organization tries to claw back toward playoff contention. It is the kind of in-season correction that signals urgency, but it also underscores how much work still sits ahead for Jerry Dipoto and a front office trying to steady a club that has not met expectations.
Dipoto has acknowledged how difficult it is to make meaningful changes in the middle of a season, and the calendar does not offer much relief. With the looming MLB labor stoppage expected to limit communication between team personnel and players, Seattle is staring at a compressed offseason and the possibility of a shortened 2024 season if Collective Bargaining Agreement talks drag on. For a team trying to reset while staying competitive, the timing could hardly be less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]