New name emerges in Mariners’ managerial search, per report

A new name has emerged in the Seattle Mariners’ managerial search.

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Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler is among a group of candidates the Mariners have identified to replace Dan Wilson, according to a report from The Athletic.

The report named former Houston Astros manager Joe Espada and former Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli as other candidates. Espada and Baldelli have been linked to the Mariners in previous reports.

Additionally, the report said the Mariners are in “an advanced stage of their search process, with additional candidates still in play.”

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The 36-year-old Kanzler has spent the past three seasons as the director of player development for the Cubs.

Prior to his time in Chicago, he spent five seasons working the Astros’ organization. He was hired by Houston as a minor-league hitting coordinator in 2019 and was promoted to the big league staff in 2022 when the Astros won their last World Series. In 2023, he was given the title of assistant hitting coach.

The Athletic’s report, which was co-authored by Astros beat reporter Chandler Rome, credited Kanzler for the development of then-rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña in 2022 and for a building a close relationship with former Houston third baseman Alex Bregman that helped the Cubs sign him to a five-year deal last winter.

Kanzler, a former outfielder, was a 20th-round pick in the 2013 draft by the Minnesota Twins. A University at Buffalo product, Kanzler played three minor league seasons and never made it past the High-A level.

A report from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden on Monday said the Mariners are hoping to finish their hiring process by the end of October.

Seattle Mariners news and more

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