Report: Scott Servais ‘strong front-runner’ to be Mariners’ manager

The Mariners are known to be close to making a final decision on who their next manager will be, and according to reports there is a new favorite.

Sources: Scott Servais strong front-runner for #Mariners‘ managerial position.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 22, 2015

Many believed that Servais, who has been the Angels assistant general manager in charge of player development and scouting since he was hired by Jerry Dipoto in the fall of 2011, would follow Dipoto to Seattle to fill a front office role, but it appears that he could be donning a uniform instead.

Another Dipoto hire with the Angels, special assistant Tim Bogar, had been thought to be the favorite to follow Lloyd McClendon as manager of the Mariners. Bogar has history with with Dipoto, as well, and he has managerial experience with the Angels’ Double-A team in 2013 and the Rangers for a month after Ron Washington stepped down.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes Bogar is still in the mix.

It will either be Scott Servais as manager and Tim Bogar as bench coach, or Bogar as manager and Servais bench coach https://t.co/ZYSqtFCJeO

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 22, 2015

Both candidates have a strong history with Dipoto. Bogar brings field experience having managed in the minors, a short stint in the majors, and holding coaching positions with the Rangers, Rays and Tampa Bay. A former MLB catcher, Servais’ post-playing experience has come mainly in front office roles in player development. While Servais does not have managerial experience, Dipoto believes that other experience can carry a first time manager.

“Baseball experience counts for a lot no matter where they came through,” he said in early October. “I think having a major league background somewhat, whether it through coaching, managing, playing, etc., is important. I think that lends to credibility in a clubhouse, but other than that it’s gong to be about leadership, about team building, about the ability to inspire an environment.”

In his current position with the Angels and as director of player development with the Rangers, Servais was known to be very hands-on with players. He has clear interest in managing, having interviewed for the vacancy in San Diego. We have already seen Dipoto make a hire that didn’t follow what many would see as the conventional path with new director of player development Andy McKay. Perhaps a second such hire, one that is rooted deeply in player development, will follow.

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