Scott Servais’ time as the Seattle Mariners manager has officially come to an end just shy of completing his ninth season with the team.
The Mariners announced on Thursday that Servais has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately, and former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson has been named the team’s new permanent manager.
The news was first reported by Ken Rosenthal and Marc Carig of The Athletic on Thursday morning.
In addition to Servais’ departure, the Mariners have also dismissed hitting coach Jarret DeHart. During a conference call with reporters, Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto shared that Wilson will be announcing further changes to the coaching staff on Friday before his first game as manager.
What the Managerial Change Means for the Mariners
Servais’ exit comes after a second-half collapse that saw the Mariners go from leading the AL West by 10 games in mid-June to falling five games out of a playoff spot just two months later.
“We believe that we need a new voice in the clubhouse,” said Dipoto in a press release. “Dan knows our team well and has been a key member of our organization, working with players at every level over the past 11 years. He is well-respected within and outside our clubhouse, and we are confident he will do a great job leading our group through the final six weeks of the season and beyond.
“I want to thank Scott for all his efforts here in Seattle over the past nine seasons. He has poured his passion into the team and our community, and I know I speak for the entire Mariners organization in expressing our gratitude for his hard work.”
https://x.com/SeattleSports/status/1826678449416929470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1826678449416929470%7Ctwgr%5E1ca2ed4aba304a3f5fd0a53dc3bd06b018222dd5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.mynorthwest.com%2F1781676%2Fseattle-mariners-manager-scott-servais-hire-dan-wilson%2F
A Closer Look at New Mariners Manager Dan Wilson
The Mariners are set to begin a six-game homestand on Friday, returning to T-Mobile Park after a disappointing road trip where they lost eight of nine games to Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles. Offensive struggles were on full display during that stretch, leaving Seattle with a 64-64 record heading into Friday. This marks a significant decline from their season-high of 13 games over .500 (44-31) on June 18. It’s the first time they’ve fallen to the .500 mark since April 24.
Just before the recent slump, the Mariners had swept the New York Mets at home and were in a virtual tie with the Houston Astros for first place in the division. Less than two weeks later, they now risk falling completely out of playoff contention, having scored more than three runs in only two of their last nine games.
Scott Servais’ Tenure with the Mariners
Scott Servais, 57, was named the 20th manager in Mariners history before the 2016 season. A former catcher who spent 11 seasons in the big leagues with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, and San Francisco Giants, Servais took on his first managerial role with the Mariners after spending a decade working in baseball front offices. He served as the Senior Director of Player Development for the Texas Rangers from 2004-2010 and as Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Angels under Jerry Dipoto from 2011-2015.
Dipoto, who was hired as the Mariners GM in 2015, chose Servais to lead the team shortly after taking the job. The pair have both received multiple contract extensions during their time with the Mariners, with Dipoto being promoted to President of Baseball Operations in 2021.
Servais leaves as the second-winningest manager in Mariners history, trailing only Lou Piniella (1993-2002) in wins, winning percentage, and games managed. He is also the only manager besides Piniella to lead the Mariners to a postseason appearance, which he achieved in 2022 when the team earned a Wild Card berth and swept the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round before being eliminated by the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series.
Despite a strong starting rotation, the Mariners have struggled offensively in recent years, particularly with strikeouts. This season, Seattle’s hitters lead MLB in strikeouts, rank last in batting average, and sit near the bottom in most other key offensive categories.
The Mariners will have Thursday off before opening their homestand against the San Francisco Giants at 7:10 p.m. on Friday at T-Mobile Park.
Leave a Reply