SEATTLE -- Ahead of the Mariners’ final game of one of their most disappointing seasons in franchise history, manager Dan Wilson informed players and staff on Sunday morning that he is not returning to his role in 2027, multiple sources told MLB.com.
The message was relayed from Wilson during a pregame meeting ahead of the Mariners' 7-3 win over the Angels in Game 162 and shortly after doors closed to media.
Postgame, Wilson confirmed the leadership change, which is also expected to include turnover among Wilson’s coaching staff. However, among that group, director of pitching strategy Trent Blank and pitching coach Pete Woodworth will be back, per sources, and each are under contract for two more seasons.
Separately, as MLB.com reported last week, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander are expected to return in 2027.
At the outset of his postgame press conference, Wilson read from a prepared statement then took questions.
“This season has been very difficult, and of course, the results have not been what any of us have expected,” Wilson said. “As a result, it's concluded that today is my last day as manager of the Seattle Mariners.
“I'm still processing this with my family, and it's a very difficult day. We love this city. We love this community and we appreciate the organization for what it has meant to the family since coming here as a player in '94. We feel extremely blessed by all the opportunities we've been afforded.”
Dipoto, who will hold a press conference on Monday, also issued a statement.
“Collectively we failed to meet our own expectations this season,” Dipoto said. “Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion, it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond.”
Wilson added that the organization “has expressed interest in a role going forward” but didn’t delve into details for what that might entail, other than that he’ll need time to process that decision.
Mariners chairman and managing partner John Stanton also issued a statement.
“I want to add my thanks to Dan for the work he’s done as manager,” Stanton said. “I have also spoken with Dan and made it clear that we would like to keep him in our organization. I look forward to continued conversations as we work to identify a role in which we can continue to benefit from his experience and commitment to the Mariners and our community.”
Wilson added that he remains on good terms with the organization.
“Of course,” Wilson said. “This is, it's just a matter of being able to step away a little bit, like I said, and process for a minute and begin to look at options within the organization.”
He was also asked if this was a mutual decision or if it was one that the front office made.
“I've been in baseball a while, and this is what happens,” Wilson said. “Managers shoulder the blame and shoulder the responsibility. And this is obviously difficult. And my family and I are, like I said, still processing it, and we'll get through it.”
Sunday’s development came the morning that Seattle finished the 2026 regular season with a 76-86 record and in third place in the American League West. It’s a division that virtually the entire industry -- including the Mariners themselves -- believed they’d be the frontrunners to win.
Instead, a combination of wildly underachieving offense, inconsistent starting pitching, a beleaguered bullpen that was battered in the second half, the sport’s worst defense by most advanced metrics and a slew of self-inflicted mistakes wound up sealing their fate.
For all these reasons -- coupled with legitimate World Series aspirations coming out of Spring Training -- a case could be made that the Mariners were MLB’s most disappointing team in 2026.
Wilson was hardly the only figure at fault, but he was a central piece to their shortcomings.
Multiple club personnel -- including players, coaches and front-office officials -- indicated to MLB.com on background at different stages of the season the Mariners notably lacked accountability, and that much of these issues stemmed from the top down. That was especially true as the year reached its most perilous points, those sources said.
Since they were officially eliminated on Thursday, the word “accountability” has been initiated by players in multiple interviews as a leading factor in what went wrong.
Wilson was also asked about accountability on Sunday morning -- specifically, if it was lacking.
“That's always a necessary component, and I think accountability comes in a lot of different ways,” Wilson said. “And perhaps it could have been something. Obviously, I think you look back, and there's a lot of things that you can point to, and perhaps that's one of them. I think it's definitely an essential part of what happens.
“And that can come from coaches. It can come from clubhouses. It can come from a lot of different places, and I think obviously it's one of those areas we continue to look at and continue to make our adjustments, as there are other areas too where things can get better.”
To be sure, multiple players -- including Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo -- said on the record this week that a chunk of the blame in ‘26 fell on them. Each among that group, sans Gilbert, experienced regression this season that, collectively, was another among the club’s biggest pitfalls.
That said, the club determined that it became increasingly clear that leadership changes were necessary -- for a team that is firmly in a win-now window but has made just two postseason appearances (2022, 2025) since emerging from its rebuild in 2021.
Postgame, Wilson was also asked if he had any regrets.
“I'm just going to answer by saying this has just been a lot to process,” Wilson said. “And I just obviously wish everybody well and continued success as they go forward, and I continue to work through all the emotions that are going on.”
Wilson just finished his second full season after being hired in August 2024 to replace Scott Servais. This was his first managerial role in any full-time capacity, having been promoted from being a special assignment coordinator on the Minor League side. At that time, his promotion did not come with an interim tag.
Wilson finished with a 187-171 record, which included the 2025 AL West title, and later that year, the franchise’s fourth appearance in the AL Championship Series.
The Mariners, already with a host of questions entering the offseason, will now immediately face their most critical: Who will replace him, and what criteria will they seek?
These are queries for Dipoto on Monday, who will now be tasked with hiring just his third manager as he heads into his 12th season at the helm of Seattle’s front office.