Mariners begin in-person managerial interviews this week with Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler at T-Mobile Park

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The Seattle Mariners are conducting in-person interviews this week for their managerial vacancy, with at least two candidates meeting with club leadership at T-Mobile Park, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the club’s plans. The process includes former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler, as Seattle continues to search for a successor after parting ways with Dan Wilson at the end of the regular season.

Espada and Kanzler are expected to be part of a “carwash of meetings,” spanning Seattle ownership, the front office and members of the coaching staff retained for the 2027 season. The in-person interviews mark the first stage of the process that includes the Major League coaching staff, following virtual meetings held earlier in the month.

While club leadership and coaching personnel are involved in the in-person portion, players will not have a seat at the table during the Mariners’ managerial search, sources said. However, at least some player voices are being incorporated into the process through conversations held as part of the broader search, including remarks attributed to “core leaders” within the organization. One quote shared in connection with those conversations was, “We’re grown men here, and we’re trying to get to the same goal.”

In addition to Espada and Kanzler, a third candidate was scheduled to interview in person, but Rocco Baldelli withdrew his name from consideration over the weekend for family considerations, sources said. Baldelli had been among the Mariners’ top targets earlier in the search, and his withdrawal leaves Seattle with remaining candidates as the in-person stage continues this week.

According to the information provided, Espada, 51, was the first name publicly linked to the Mariners’ opening. His candidacy gained traction after the Astros announced they would not renew his contract following his three-year run as Houston’s manager. Before his managerial stint, Espada spent six seasons as the Astros’ bench coach.

The Mariners’ other confirmed in-person candidate, Kanzler, is 36 and has spent the past three seasons running the Cubs’ farm system. Before that, he spent five seasons in the Astros organization after his playing career concluded at the High-A level, beginning as a hitting coach in the low minors and later serving as a minor league hitting coordinator and eventually a hitting coach for Houston’s big-league club.

Espada and Kanzler share a coaching connection through Dusty Baker’s staff. Both were part of Baker’s coaching group during Houston’s 2022 World Series run, giving Seattle another link between the two candidates beyond their respective current roles.

The Mariners’ search priorities, as described through statements attributed to club leadership, include a desire for communication and an openness to varying backgrounds. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said that prior Major League managing experience is “not a prerequisite,” while also noting that it “would be preferred.” Dipoto previously made hires that did not include prior Major League managing experience, including the team’s first two managers in the role, Scott Servais and Dan Wilson.

Kanzler’s path differs from Espada’s in that he has no managerial experience at any level, sources said. The discussion around his candidacy has nevertheless emphasized his coaching and player development background, with communication highlighted as an area of focus for Seattle.

The in-person process is also occurring against a backdrop of a shifting candidate list. In addition to the planned interview with Baldelli, the Mariners also interviewed White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven earlier in the process, according to a source, though he is no longer being considered. Seattle had also discussed former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, but sources indicated he is no longer being considered.

Earlier in the wider managerial market, the Mariners were also linked with several other options that have since narrowed. Arizona’s Torey Lovullo, for example, returned to the D-backs on a two-year contract on Oct. 1, ending speculation connected to Seattle’s opening. Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, another early link due to his history with Seattle’s bullpen coaching staff in 2023 and his ties to the region, also appears to be off the table after Vogt affirmed he would remain with the Guardians, with Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti confirming Vogt is under contract for next season and beyond.

Baldelli’s situation reflects the kind of personal timing issue that has affected Seattle’s pursuit. Sources said Baldelli made his home in Florida as a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office and that his family considerations contributed to his decision to withdraw. That is tied to why Seattle is now moving forward with fewer options as the in-person stage progresses.

Seattle’s search began after the club parted ways with Dan Wilson at the end of the regular season, and the team has been without a final decision for nearly a full month. Dipoto said at an end-of-season press conference that there was no timeline for reaching the end of the search process, but this week’s in-person meetings could be a significant step as Seattle brings the process into more direct evaluation with leadership and the retained Major League coaching group.

For now, the key development is straightforward: Espada and Kanzler will meet club brass at T-Mobile Park this week as Seattle evaluates its managerial choices in a process that, while player voices are being heard, keeps players away from the decision table. The outcome of the in-person interviews will determine what, if any, additional steps come next in the Mariners’ search.

Source note: This report is based only on the supplied materials describing the Mariners’ managerial interview plans and the candidates discussed within that information. Some operational details described in the source, such as the full internal meeting schedule beyond the stated scope, were not provided in additional primary documentation within the supplied text.