One day after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Seattle Mariners made a significant change in leadership by firing longtime manager Scott Servais and appointing former Mariners All-Star catcher Dan Wilson as the new manager.
On Thursday, The Athletic reported that Servais’ departure was imminent. This was later confirmed by Mariners president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, who announced that Wilson would take over the managerial role effective immediately.
Wilson, a revered member of the Mariners’ Hall of Fame, has no prior managerial experience but has been involved with the team as a special assignment coordinator during spring training in recent years. Dipoto expressed confidence in Wilson’s ability to lead the team, stating, “We believe that we need a new voice in the clubhouse. He is well respected within and outside of the clubhouse, and we are confident he will do a great job in leading our group over the final six weeks of the season and moving forward.”
Wilson’s first game as manager will be on Friday, as the Mariners begin a crucial home series against the San Francisco Giants. Notably, Wilson will not carry the “interim” title; Dipoto made it clear that Wilson is the manager moving forward.
In his statement, Dipoto also took a moment to thank Servais for his nine years of service to the Mariners. “He has poured his passion into the team and our community, and I know I speak for the entire Mariners organization in thanking him for his hard work,” Dipoto said.
However, the manner in which Servais learned of his firing was less than ideal. According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Servais discovered the news via social media, hours before a scheduled meeting with the general manager. Despite the abruptness, Servais released a statement expressing gratitude to the Mariners organization and fans.
Servais, who took over as Mariners manager in 2016, played a key role in ending the team’s 21-year postseason drought in 2022. However, the 2024 season has been challenging, with the team suffering a midseason collapse after once holding a 10-game lead in their division. The Mariners now find themselves five games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West and 7.5 games back from the final AL wild-card spot.
Seattle has also struggled offensively, despite strong performances from its pitching staff. The Mariners lead the league in strikeouts and have the lowest batting average in the league, contributing to their fall to a .500 record at 64-64.
In addition to Servais, the Mariners also dismissed hitting coach Jarret DeHart, who had been with the team since 2018 and was promoted to his role in 2021.
To assist Wilson in turning the season around, Mariners legend Edgar Martinez is expected to join the coaching staff for the remainder of the season. Martinez, a seven-time All-Star and former Mariners hitting coach, will bring valuable experience to the struggling lineup.
With 34 games remaining in the regular season, Wilson and Martinez will look to guide the Mariners through a challenging stretch as they aim to salvage their playoff hopes in a competitive AL West.