The Seattle Mariners have dismissed Scott Servais from his role as manager, the team announced on Thursday. Former Mariners player Dan Wilson has been named as Servais’ permanent replacement, according to Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations. Specifics of Wilson’s contract have not been disclosed. Wilson now becomes the 18th full-time manager in the history of the Mariners.
In addition to Servais, the Mariners also parted ways with hitting coach Jarret DeHart. Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez, a revered figure in Mariners history, will join the team’s newly reorganized coaching staff, as reported by Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.
Servais’ dismissal follows a disappointing series of performances, culminating in the Mariners being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending a 1-8 road trip. The team’s record has slipped to 20-33 after a strong 44-31 start to the season, bringing their overall record back to .500.
Currently, the Mariners are five games behind the Houston Astros for the AL West lead and are 7.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.
“We believe that we need a new voice in the clubhouse. Dan knows our team and has been a key member of our organization working with players at every level over the past 11 years,” Dipoto said in a statement. “He is well respected within and outside of our clubhouse, and we are confident he will do a great job over the final six weeks of the season and moving forward.”
Scott Servais, 57, departs with a managerial record of 680-642 since joining the Mariners in 2016. His tenure included breaking the team’s 21-year playoff drought, leading to a 2022 ALDS appearance. However, Dipoto recently indicated that changes in the clubhouse were necessary due to the team’s underwhelming performance during the 2024 season.
Dan Wilson, 55, who has never managed at the professional level or served on a major-league coaching staff, played for the Mariners for 12 seasons from 1994 to 2005. He is a member of the Mariners Hall of Fame and has spent the past seven years working in the club’s front office as a special assistant for player development. Since 2011, Wilson has also served as a commentator on Mariners broadcasts.
Wilson will be tasked with turning around a Mariners team that currently ranks among the lowest in MLB for runs scored and team batting average, despite having a starting rotation with an MLB-best 3.32 ERA.
“I appreciate the faith that Jerry, (general manager Justin Hollander), and the Mariners organization have placed in me, and I’m eager to get to work,” Wilson said. “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.”
