Mariners move on from Dan Wilson

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are expected to enter the 2027 season with a new manager after Dan Wilson told players and staff Sunday morning that he will not return, according to multiple reports.

Wilson delivered the message before Seattle’s final game of the regular season, closing the book on a year in which the club fell far short of its preseason expectations. The organization had viewed itself as a contender in the American League West, but instead finished well below .500 and in third place in the division.

The Mariners had not publicly announced the change as of Sunday, and Wilson did not directly confirm his departure when asked before the finale against the Los Angeles Angels. He said conversations with the front office about his future were continuing.

Still, the expected move points to a broad reassessment after a season defined by inconsistency and missed opportunities. Seattle struggled offensively, received uneven results from its starting rotation and watched its bullpen wear down during the second half. Defensive issues and costly mistakes added to the frustration for a team that entered spring training with postseason — and potentially World Series — ambitions.

Wilson, who took over in August 2024 after Scott Servais was dismissed, completed his second full season in the role. It was his first experience managing a major league club on a full-time basis.

The manager was not solely responsible for Seattle’s decline, but questions about leadership and accountability became a recurring theme as the season unraveled. People around the organization, including players and staff members, indicated that the club lacked consistent accountability during key stretches of the year.

Wilson addressed that topic Sunday, calling accountability an essential part of a successful team while acknowledging that it can come from coaches, players and the clubhouse itself.

Several of Seattle’s core players also accepted responsibility for their own roles in the disappointing campaign. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo were among those who publicly discussed the need for improvement. Regression from multiple important contributors magnified the club’s broader problems.

The change is expected to extend beyond the manager’s office, with turnover anticipated among the coaching staff. However, pitching coach Pete Woodworth and director of pitching strategy Trent Blank are expected to remain with the organization. Both are under contract for two more seasons.

Seattle’s baseball operations leadership is also expected to stay in place. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander are expected to return for 2027, leaving them with the task of identifying Wilson’s replacement and determining what the next manager must bring to the clubhouse.

That decision will shape an important offseason for the Mariners. The team remains built around a talented core and still considers itself to be in a competitive window, but it has reached the postseason only twice since its rebuild began to produce results earlier in the decade.

For Seattle, the search for a new manager is now more than a personnel move. It is a chance to reset the standards, restore consistency and ensure that a roster built to contend does not let another promising season slip away.