Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto says Seattle will hire from outside the organization to find its next manager: We need fresh thought, we need something new

Mariners begin external manager search

by Miracle Dimwesh

Sep 29, 2026

Seattle Mariners Training Hat

Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto says the organization will look outside the franchise for its next manager.

Dipoto confirmed the decision following Seattle’s 2026 season, saying the Mariners need a different perspective as they begin searching for a replacement for Dan Wilson.

Wilson announced after Sunday’s season finale that he would not return as Seattle’s manager in 2027. The Mariners finished the season 76-86 and in third place in the American League West.

The Mariners also made changes to the coaching staff following the end of the season. Bench coach Manny Acta, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, infield coach Perry Hill and first base coach Eric Young Jr. were among those let go.

Dipoto said the organization needs fresh thought and something new as it considers the direction of the club.

The decision comes one year after Seattle reached Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. The Mariners entered 2026 looking to build on that postseason run but finished below .500 and missed the playoffs.

Seattle’s search will now focus on candidates from outside the organization as the club looks to fill the managerial position for the 2027 season.

Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Mariners will also enter the offseason looking to address the issues that contributed to their 76-86 finish. With Wilson no longer returning and several members of the coaching staff gone, the next manager will take over a club undergoing significant changes.

For Dipoto and the Mariners, the managerial search represents the first major step in determining what the organization will look like heading into the 2027 season.