SEATTLE -- The Mariners are holding 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 brass 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 -- though he withdrew his name from consideration over the weekend for family considerations, a source said, confirming an initial report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
The in-person interviews for Espada and Kanzler will feature a carwash of meetings, spanning ownership, the front office and members of the coaching staff that were retained for 2027, among others. Some within the organization that will be included in this week’s process explicitly flew into town to take part, in addition to Espada and Kanzler.
It’s unclear if this represents a “finalist” stage -- though for both candidates, it will be their third round of interviews, following virtual meetings earlier this month. The in-person confabs will be the first that include the Major League coaching staff.
The Mariners also interviewed White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven, one source said, though he is no longer in the running. They had also discussed former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, but two sources suggested that 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 that they were not renewing his contract. Espada spent the past three years as Houston’s manager, and before that, was their bench coach for six seasons.
Kanzler, 36, has spent the past three seasons at the helm of the Cubs’ farm system. Before that, he spent five seasons in the Astros’ organization after his playing career topped out at High-A, beginning as a hitting coach in the low Minors before being promoted to Minor League hitting coordinator, and eventually, a hitting coach for the big league club.
Both Kanzler and Espada were on Dusty Baker’s coaching staff during Houston’s run to a 2022 World Series title.
Although Kanzler has an extensive coaching and player development background, he has no managerial experience at any level and is the more outside-of-the-box candidate next to Espada. But Kanzler has been praised for his forward-thinking views on the game and ability to communicate, the latter of which the Mariners have suggested is a priority.
Additionally, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has stated that prior managing 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 more unorthodox and had no prior managing experience.
As for Baldelli, he became the latest of the Mariners’ top targets that is no longer an option.
In his first season as a special assistant in the Dodgers’ front office, Baldelli makes his home 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 frontrunner, given his seven years as Twins manager, which included three American League Central titles and the 2019 AL Manager of the Year Award during his first season.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo was one of their earliest targets, though he returned to Arizona on a two-year contract on Oct. 1.
There was also the obvious fit with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who was Seattle's bullpen coach in 2023 and who makes his full-time home in Olympia, Wash. However, Vogt affirmed last week that he is returning to Cleveland, and Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti confirmed that Vogt is under contract for next season and beyond.
One source said that the Guardians were open to allowing Vogt to explore the opportunity with the Mariners, but he quickly quashed it and preferred to stay in Cleveland. Antonetti told reporters last week that the Mariners did not reach out to inquire about Vogt.
The Mariners, who parted ways with Wilson at the end of the regular season, have been searching for his replacement for nearly a full month. Dipoto said in an end-of-season press conference that there was no timeline for reaching the end of the search process.
But this week could be significant toward a potential hire.