Mariners hire Cubs executive with no managerial experience as new manager

After a colossally disappointing 2026 season, the Seattle Mariners are bringing in a first-time manager. The Mariners have named Chicago Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler their new manager, the team announced Tuesday. Seattle fired manager Dan Wilson after the season.

"Our goal in this process was finding a manager with the ability to challenge all of us to improve," president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. "Jason has the mindset, expertise, communication skills, and intensity to help create a championship standard here in Seattle."

The Mariners will be Kanzler's first managerial job at any level. At 36, he will be the second-youngest manager in baseball, older than only 34-year-old Washington Nationals skipper Blake Butera.

Bringing in a manager with zero previous managerial experience at any level is a rare move, certainly, though it is not unprecedented. Most notably, the New York Yankees hired Aaron Boone straight from the broadcasting booth in 2018. Boone had no managerial or coaching experience at any level. He's led the Yankees to the postseason eight times in nine seasons.

"I am thrilled to join the Mariners organization and I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running," Kanzler said in a…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/