Mariners Name Cubs Executive Jason Kanzler Manager
The Seattle Mariners hired Chicago Cubs player-development director Jason Kanzler as their manager on November 3, giving him his first managerial job.
Seattle has chosen Jason Kanzler, the Chicago Cubs’ director of player development, to lead the Mariners. The 36-year-old has never managed a team, making the job his first at any level. He is set to be baseball’s second-youngest manager, behind Washington’s 34-year-old Blake Butera.
Kanzler has worked in baseball coaching and player development, including on the Houston Astros’ major-league staff in 2022 and as an assistant hitting coach in 2023. He joined the Cubs in 2024 to oversee their player-development operation. Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said the team wanted a manager who would push the organization to improve. Kanzler said he was eager to begin and believed the roster had considerable potential.
The hire follows a disappointing season for Seattle. The Mariners went 76-86 in 2026, finishing five games behind in the American League West after reaching Game 7 of the AL Championship Series the previous year. They had dismissed Dan Wilson after the season. Kanzler becomes the third manager under Dipoto, following Scott Servais and Wilson. Former Astros manager Joe Espada was also a finalist for the position.
Kanzler’s departure leaves Chicago needing a new head of player development. The Cubs also lost assistant general manager Jared Banner, who left to become Baltimore’s general manager. Chicago’s offseason work includes decisions about its baseball operations and minor-league pitching development.