Morosi names Mariners legend Raúl Ibañez as potential manager candidate

After one of the most exciting seasons in franchise history in 2025, the Seattle Mariners delivered one of their most disappointing this year.

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As a result, it was announced Sunday that manager Dan Wilson will not return following the final game of his second full year on the job.

The franchise’s attention now turns to a managerial search, and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi believes the job will be one of the more desirable openings in MLB.

“If you are a managerial candidate with a really strong resume, the Mariners still are one of the most attainable and exciting jobs out there,” Morosi said during a recent edition of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob. “There may be other teams that change, but the Mariner job… is going to be one of the marquee, if not the single marquee managerial job in the profession this winter, period, because of the amount of talent that you’ve got.”

Morosi brought up some of the bigger name candidates Seattle could try to court: Alex Cora, Torey Luvello and even future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols. But perhaps the most intriguing name he brought up due to his connection to the franchise is former M’s left fielder Raul Ibañez.

“Raúl Ibañez, who while in some ways biographically has the Mariner connection the way that Dan Wilson does, has a very different profile and background in the game,” Morosi said. “If he wants it, Raúl is going to be a major league manager at some point. It’s a question of where and when.”

Ibañez spent 11 of his 19 MLB seasons in Seattle, slugging 156 homers while batting .279 with an .808 OPS over 1,110 games. He is one of just nine players in franchise history to amass 1,000 hits with the team. He was recognized as one of the 50 greatest players in franchise history in August.

The 54-year Ibañez has stayed heavily involved in the game since retiring as a player following the 2014 season. In 2016, he was hired as a special assistant to Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. In 2021, he and former Miami Marlins general manager Michael Hill were named MLB’s senior vice presidents of on-field operations. He then rejoined the Dodgers in early 2024 to serve as vice president of baseball development and special projects, a role he currently holds.

Additionally, he has worked as an MLB analyst for ESPN. And back in 2014 before he officially retired, he was a finalist – alongside Kevin Cash and former M’s manager Don Wakamatsu – for the Tampa Bay Rays’ managerial job before withdrawing from consideration.

Ibañez was the National League manager during the 2023 All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park, and the American League bench coach in the game the next season when it was held in Arlington, Texas. However, he has not held any permanent coaching roles and would be a first-time manager if he were hired.

Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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