Cubs reportedly planned to promote new Mariners manager Kanzler

If the Seattle Mariners didn’t hire Jason Kanzler as their new manager, he reportedly would have received a promotion from the Chicago Cubs.

Mariners won’t re-sign longtime SS J.P. Crawford, per reports

Chicago Tribune Cubs beat reporter Meghan Montemurro reported on social media Tuesday the Cubs had planned to promote Kanzler to assistant general manager before the Mariners hired him away. The 36-year-old Kanzler had spent the past three seasons as Chicago’s farm director.

The Cubs filled Kanzler’s role as farm director Tuesday by promoting Ben Martin to the position, per Montemurro.

The Mariners hired Kanzler to be their 22nd manager on Nov. 3. It is his first job as a manager.

Before his time as the Cubs’ farm director, Kanzler was a minor-league hitting coach and major-league coach for the Houston Astros from 2019-23, which included being on the big-league staff in 2022 when Houston won the World Series.

Seattle had previously interviewed Kanzler for a role as their hitting coach after the 2021 season.

Kanzler is replacing Dan Wilson, who spent two-plus seasons as Seattle’s manager.

The Mariners have announced two more coaching hirings since Kanzler was brought in. The club has also hired Roslyn native Tanner Swanson as its bench coach and CJ Gillman as its hitting coach. Gillman had been with the Mariners from 2022-25 as the organization’s minor-league hitting coordinator.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Mariners pitching prospect named All-Star in Arizona Fall League
• New Mariners manager Jason Kanzler was a walking web gem in CF
• Two Seattle Mariners among new Super 2 eligible players

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