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Mariners Hiring Jason Kanzler as New Manager
The Seattle Mariners are hiring former Chicago Cubs' director of player development Jason Kanzler as their new manager, a source told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Houston Astros manager Joe Espada had been among the finalists to land the job in Seattle, but it will instead go to Kanzler in an unconventional move by the Mariners. Kanzler, 36, will be replacing Dan Wilson after he was fired following the team's disappointing 2026 season. Kanzler has never managed at any level, but he will be inheriting one of the league's deepest, most talented rosters. Seattle has stars in outfielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh, not to mention some of the best starting-pitching depth in baseball. Kanzler is a former outfielder who was drafted in the 20th round in 2013. He previously spent five years with the Houston Astros, serving as a major-league coach in 2022 and 2023. He was hired by the Cubs as their director of player development at the start of the 2024 campaign. Kanzler will be the third skipper to serve under general manager Jerry Dipoto, who was brought in near the end of the 2015 season.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Rocco Baldelli Withdraws From Mariners' Managerial Search
Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager, according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Rosenthal reports that Baldelli has cited "family considerations" in withdrawing his name from consideration for the Mariners' open position. Baldelli currently serves as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations with the Dodgers. He was previously the manager of the Minnesota Twins from 2019 to 2025 and was the American League Manager of the Year in 2019 and won three AL Central division titles.
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal
Managerial Candidates Emerging For Mariners Job
According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, two former members of the Houston Astros staff -- Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler -- have emerged as serious candidates in the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager. Kanzler was on the Astros' 2022 staff and is now the Cubs farm director. And The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal added that Rocco Baldelli, the Dodgers' special assistant, is also in the mix for the Mariners job. The Mariners finished 76-86 overall and in third place in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, who finished with an 81-81 record to win the division. The Astros parted ways with Espada this offseason after the team lost to the Chicago White Sox in the postseason.
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Joe Espada Set to Interview for Mariners Manager Job
The Seattle Mariners are set to interview current Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for their managerial vacancy, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. While Espada is currently employed by Houston, Rome reports that his future with the organization is "in doubt" as his contract expires at the end of October. Espada has been the manager of the Astros since the start of the 2024 season. Houston has reached the playoffs twice under his watch, but they've failed to win a postseason game and have also seen their regular-season record get worse every year. The Mariners parted ways with former manager Dan Wilson shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 season. Seattle won just 76 games this year, but the team has plenty of returning talent. If Espada gets the Mariners job, he will be under pressure to win immediately in Seattle.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Taylor Ward Serving as DH in Return From Quad Injury
Seattle Mariners outfielder Taylor Ward (quadriceps) is back in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's game on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers, serving as the designated hitter and batting eighth against right-hander Dustin May, per MLB.com. Ward is returning to action after missing each of the last five games due to a quad injury. Dominic Canzone is starting in right field and will bat third for the M's. Fantasy managers who have Ward rostered might want to think about keeping him benched until he can show some signs of life at the plate. The 32-year-old right-handed slugger has not been able to find his power stroke this year and has only seven long balls after clubbing a career-high 36 homers and driving in 103 in a career year with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. Since joining Seattle at the trade deadline, Ward has gone 5-for-32 (.156) at the plate with zero homers, zero walks, and six strikeouts in eight games. He has one hit in just three career at-bats against May.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Julio Rodriguez Returns to Mariners Lineup on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez (leg) is serving as the designated hitter and will bat second for the team's game on Wednesday at home against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Brady Singer, per MLB.com. Rodriguez was hit in the leg by a throw while running to first base on Monday night in the series opener against the Reds and was held out on Tuesday as a precaution, although he eventually entered the game and homered last night. The 25-year-old Dominican outfielder should be returned to starting fantasy lineups in all leagues now that he's recovered from his minor leg injury. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year in 2022 is currently hitting .258/.321/.426 with a .746 OPS, 15 home runs, 43 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 91 games across 393 plate appearances in 2026. A third 30-30 season might not be in the cards for J-Rod this year due to injuries, but he is still a no-brainer must-start in all leagues when he's active. Rodriguez has struggled so far in July, going 3-for-13 with a homer, three RBI, two runs, two walks, and four strikeouts in just five games played after missing some time while on the concussion injured list.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dominic Canzone Back in Lineup on Monday as DH
Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Ryan Johnson, serving as the designated hitter and batting third, per MLB.com. Canzone is back in action on Monday after sitting out Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians with right-hamstring soreness. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has been one of the team's most consistent hitters this year and already is up to a career-high 12 home runs, slashing .274/.349/.542 with an .891 OPS, 33 RBI, 29 runs scored, and a stolen base in 190 at-bats. He is hitting .323 (21-for-65) with five home runs, three doubles, a triple, and 11 runs scored in 22 games in June, but he's cooled off of late, going 3-for-23 with a homer, two RBI, three walks, and nine strikeouts in his last eight contests. Canzone lacks fantasy upside in shallow-mixed leagues because he rarely plays against lefties, but he's hitting a nice .281 (48-for-171) with 11 of his 12 long balls against righties this year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dominic Canzone Returns From Hamstring Injury on Wednesday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone (hamstring) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth on Wednesday against the hosting Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Braxton Ashcraft at PNC Park, according to MLB.com. Canzone was held out as a precaution in Tuesday's win over the Pirates due to a right-hamstring injury. The left-handed-hitting outfielder is back now, though, and he should draw consideration as a waiver-wire pickup in fantasy baseball leagues on the strong side of a platoon for the M's at DH. The 28-year-old has already set new career highs in home runs (12) and RBI (33) in 70 games this year while slashing a nice .281/.353/.562 with a .915 OPS, 28 runs scored, and a stolen base in 201 plate appearances. Canzone has really come on strong in June, going 19-for-54 (.352) with five home runs, two doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, and 10 runs scored in 19 games played. Fantasy managers searching for outfield upgrades should consider Canzone, who is only rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
