The Seattle Mariners just picked up a new complication in their search for a manager.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Angels announced they will not bring back Kurt Suzuki after one season, opening another managerial job and adding one more team to the same market Seattle is fishing in.
Suzuki entered the season on a one-year deal, and the results never gave him much room to breathe. The Angels finished 62-100, buried in last place in the American League West after dealing with a thin roster and a wave of injuries.
That alone would have made the opening notable. But this one comes with a few extra layers that could make it especially attractive to candidates.
Southern California has long been a baseball hotbed, and it offers the kind of weather and lifestyle that naturally draws interest. That alone gives the Angels a built-in appeal in the hiring process, and it creates another obstacle for the Mariners as they look for their next skipper.
There’s also the ownership angle. Stan Kroenke is taking over as owner of the Angels, and his track record with winning organizations will likely make the job even more appealing to top candidates.
Money matters here, too. Kroenke has the resources to pay a manager well, but that’s only part of the picture.
He can also spend on players and invest heavily in player development, facilities and analytics. Even if a salary cap eventually levels the playing field on manager salaries, that financial muscle could still matter in plenty of other ways.
That added competition is now part of the picture for Seattle, and it’s one of the topics discussed with current Mariners broadcaster Ryan Rowland-Smith on the latest “Refuse to Lose Territory” podcast.
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The Mariners managerial search has taken another turn, and it says as much about the organizations priorities as it does about the candidates themselves. Along with more familiar names such as Joe Espada and Rocco Baldelli, the club is also interviewing Jason Kanzler, the Cubs director of player development, adding a different type of voice to the mix as Seattle weighs its next move.
Kanzlers path is rooted more in minor league work and player development than in big-league dugout experience, with stops in the Astros and Cubs organizations shaping his rsum. For a Mariners club that has spent plenty of time trying to blend young talent into a contending roster, that background makes him a relevant option even if it also raises the obvious question of what kind of manager Seattle really wants leading this group. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Search Just Took A Turn Fans Didn't See Coming
The Mariners managerial search has taken a slightly different shape in recent days, with Jason Kanzler emerging as a serious candidate for the opening. Kanzler is currently the Chicago Cubs director of player development, and his background has drawn attention because it blends coaching, analytics and hands-on work with young talent. He also has previous coaching experience with the Astros, where he worked closely with players such as Jeremy Pena and Alex Bregman.
For Seattle, the appeal is pretty clear. The next manager will inherit a roster that mixes established veterans with younger pieces still trying to settle in, and that kind of bridge role can matter as much as dugout experience. Kanzler fits the profile of an instructor and evaluator, though he does not bring major league managerial experience to the table, which makes him an intriguing name as the process moves forward alongside Joe Espada and Rocco Baldelli. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Manager Search Just Took A Surprising Turn
The Mariners managerial search may have taken an unexpected detour, with Stephen Vogt emerging as a possible name to watch. Vogt is currently running the Cleveland Guardians and already has built a strong resume, including two AL Manager of the Year awards, which is exactly the sort of pedigree that would make Seattles opening intriguing if the fit ever got serious.
The wrinkle is as personal as it is professional: sources say Vogt would like to be closer to his family in Washington, which gives Seattle an obvious geographic appeal. Even so, any path there would be unusually complicated, and insiders are stressing that there have been no official discussions or confirmations yet, leaving the possibility in the realm of something to monitor rather than something close to done. [Read more 🡒]