Kanzler replaces the fired Dan Wilson and becomes the second-youngest manager in baseball, just behind Washington's Blake Butera.
The Mariners have a new skipper, and he's barely older than some of his players' veteran teammates. Seattle announced Tuesday that it hired Jason Kanzler, the Cubs' director of player development, to replace Dan Wilson, who was fired after the season.
Kanzler, 36, arrives with no prior managerial experience but plenty of development pedigree. He had served as the Cubs' farm director since 2024, a stretch that saw outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong develop into one of the game's top players. At 36, Kanzler becomes the second-youngest manager in MLB, trailing only the Nationals' Blake Butera, who took over his job at 33 a year ago.
Kanzler inherits a Mariners clubhouse in transition, blending young talent with established stars. Seattle debuted top prospects this past season, including Gold Glove second baseman Cole Young, infielder Colt Emerson, and outfielder Lazaro Montes, who arrived later in the year. The Mariners reportedly also considered former Astros manager Joe Espada before settling on the outside-the-box hire in Kanzler, betting that his development background can help blend the roster's youth and experience into a contender.