The spiraling Seattle Mariners, who have lost eight of nine games largely because of a lethargic offense, have fired manager Scott Servais, it was announced Thursday.
Dan Wilson, the longtime Mariners catcher who had been serving as a coordinator in the organization’s minor league system, will step in as the team’s new manager.
“We believe that we need a new voice in the clubhouse,” general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “Dan knows our team 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 of our 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.
“I do 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 thanking him for has hard work.”
Seattle also fired hitting coach Jarret DeHart on Thursday. The Mariners have hit .216 as a team this season — last in MLB — and have averaged just 3.9 runs, which is the fourth-fewest in the majors.
The Mariners were outscored 17-7 in a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, failing on back-to-back nights at Dodger Stadium to gain ground on the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West. On June 18, Seattle had a 10-game lead in the division, but the Mariners have since gone 20-33 to fall five games back of Houston and slide to .500 for the first time since April 24.
The Mariners have been bolstered by a dynamic rotation featuring Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller that has combined for a major league-best 3.53 ERA. But their offense has produced only .666 OPS, lower than every team except the lowly Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox.
Servais, 57, came over from the Los Angeles Angels alongside current president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander following the 2015 season, inheriting a veteran team in transition. Three consecutive playoff absences triggered a rebuild that produced budding superstar Julio Rodriguez, cornerstone catcher Cal Raleigh and most of their current rotation.
The Mariners snapped a historic 21-year playoff drought with a 90-win season in 2022 but fell short of the postseason in 2023 behind a lackluster September. Fearing a loss of revenues due to uncertainty over their regional sports network, Mariners ownership opted against an increase in payroll the following offseason, prompting the front office to attempt to fix the offense with low-cost moves that did not pan out.
Newcomers Mitch Garver (.614 OPS), Mitch Haniger (.643) and Jorge Polanco (.672) all struggled; J.P. Crawford failed to replicate his offensive surge from 2023; and Rodriguez did not perform like his superstar self.
The Mariners’ front office hoped to inject some life into their lineup by acquiring Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner before the July 30 trade deadline, and the team responded by winning six of nine games at the start of August. Then came the nine-game stretch that ultimately cost Servais his job.
Servais briefly met with players in the wake of Wednesday’s sweep-clinching loss to the Dodgers and told them to use the upcoming off day as an opportunity to reset and prepare for the stretch run.
Wilson, the Mariners’ catcher from 1994 to 2005, has served in a variety of roles within the organization since retiring as a player, including the last six as a special assistant for player development.
“I appreciate the faith that Jerry, Justin and the Mariners organization have placed in me” Wilson said, “and I’m eager to get to work. I believe this team is capable of playing great baseball this season and look forward to the opportunity to work with this group of players and coaches.”
