Mariners ‘will go outside to hire our manager,’ Jerry Dipoto says

The Seattle Mariners will hire their next manager from outside of the organization, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told reporters Monday.

Seattle Mariners announce 4 coaches will not be back in 2027

“We will go outside to hire our manager,” Dipoto said. “We need fresh thought. We need something new. It could be a shift in programming. It could be a shift in messaging. It could be a shift in language. We’ll collaborate with whoever our future manager is and try to find the right person.”

The Mariners are beginning a search for the third manager since 2024 after announcing Sunday that Dan Wilson will not be returning in 2027 for a fourth season. Wilson, who replaced previous manager Scott Servais in August 2024, led the Mariners to an AL West title and American League Championship Series in his first full year at the helm in 2025, but he oversaw a disappointing 2026 campaign that ended with Seattle’s first losing record in a full season since 2019.

Dipoto: Mariners players pointed out things ‘abandoned’ in 2026

Dipoto said previous experience as an MLB manager will be “preferred” but not a “prerequisite” in the Mariners’ next skipper. Neither Wilson not Servais, who was hired as Mariners manager by Dipoto before the 2016 season, had managed before in the big leagues.

“Generally speaking, we’re just looking for someone who has high character, growth mindset, has the ability to think strategically in the context of a major league game when that happens very quickly,” Dipoto said. “Obviously, we are one of 30 teams in our league. Many would share the same criteria.

“There are a lot of good people out there, and most of what we’ve done, in recent years especially, has been insular. And I think this year’s failure requires that we look outside to find someone who might be able to poke holes in what we’re doing and help us see something that perhaps we’re blind to. Because obviously this has not been what we intended nor what we expected from our team.”

Passan: 4 names Mariners could target in manager search

Dipoto said he will have “full autonomy” in hiring the next manager. He added that there is no timeline on the manager search.

“Our process starts now. (Mariners general manager Justin Hollander) and I are both making phone calls around the league, starting to dig into who the best candidates are out there,” he said. “Why there is no timeline on it, we will get the best candidate available.”

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Dan Wilson makes statement after last game as Mariners manager
• Rick Rizzs Road: Issaquah to name street after voice of Mariners
• Montes, Anderson among Seattle Mariners’ minor league award winners

Related

Dipoto: Mariners players pointed out things ‘abandoned’ in 2026Morosi names Mariners legend Raúl Ibañez as potential manager candidateMariners announce 4 coaches will not be back in 2027D-backs manager Torey Lovullo wants ‘to be wanted’ with future up in airPassan: 4 names Mariners could target in manager searchMariners players speak on manager Dan Wilson’s exit