SEATTLE — The Mariners are conducting in-person interviews for their managerial vacancy this week, multiple sources with knowledge of the club’s plans told MLB.com on Monday. At least two candidates will meet with club officials at T-Mobile Park: former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler. A third was also scheduled, with former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, although he withdrew his name from consideration over the weekend due to family considerations, a source said, confirming an initial report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. In-person interviews for Espada and Kanzler will include a series of meetings covering ownership, the front office and coaching staff members who were hired for 2027, among others. Some members of the organization who will be included in this week’s process explicitly flew to the city to participate, in addition to Espada and Kanzler. It is unclear whether this represents a “finalist” stage, although for both candidates it will be their third round of interviews, following virtual meetings earlier this month. The in-person talks will be the first to include the Major League coaching staff. The Mariners also interviewed White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven, a source said, although he is no longer in the running. They had also talked about former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, but two sources suggested he is no longer being considered. Espada, 51, was the first name publicly linked to Seattle’s opening, as MLB.com initially reported two days before the Astros announced they would not renew his contract. Espada spent the last three years as Houston’s manager, and before that, he was their bench coach for six seasons. Kanzler, 36, has spent the last three seasons running the Cubs’ farm system. Before that, he spent five seasons in the Astros organization after his playing career peaked in High-A, starting as a hitting coach in the minor leagues before being promoted to minor league hitting coordinator and eventually hitting coach for the major league club. Both Kanzler and Espada were on Dusty Baker’s coaching staff during Houston’s run to the 2022 World Series title. Although Kanzler has extensive coaching and player development experience, he has no managerial experience at any level and is the most innovative candidate alongside Espada. But Kanzler has been praised for his progressive views on the game and his communication skills, the latter of which the Mariners have suggested is a priority. Additionally, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has stated that prior management experience at the Major League level “is not a prerequisite,” but added that “it would be preferred.” Each of Dipoto’s first two hires (Scott Servais and Dan Wilson) were less orthodox and had no prior managerial experience. As for Baldelli, he became the latest of the Mariners’ top targets to no longer be an option. In his first season as a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office, Baldelli lives in Florida and has three young children there with his wife. The belief was that Seattle was too far from home. He was also believed to be the favorite, given his seven years as Twins manager, which included three American League Central titles and the 2019 American League Manager of the Year Award during his first season. There was also an obvious overlap with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who was Seattle’s bullpen coach in 2023 and who makes his full-time home in Olympia, Washington. However, Vogt stated last week that he will return to Cleveland, and Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti confirmed that Vogt is under contract for next season and beyond. A source said the Guardians were open to allowing Vogt to explore the opportunity with the Mariners, but he quickly nixed it and preferred to stay in Cleveland. Antonetti told reporters last week that the Mariners did not reach out to ask about Vogt. The Mariners, who parted ways with Wilson at the end of the regular season, have been searching for his replacement for almost a full month. Dipoto said in an end-of-season news conference that there was no timeline for reaching the end of the search process. But this week could be important for a possible hire.
