Mariners' Manager Dan Wilson Faces Hot Seat After Disappointing 2026 Season

Seattle entered the 2026 campaign after a historic 2025 run that saw the Mariners post a 90-72 record, win the American League West, and reach the franchise’s first American League Championship Series, ultimately falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. Expectations remained high, but the team stumbled to a 70-79 record, finishing third in the division and five games behind the final AL wild-card spot. The decline prompted immediate discussion about accountability, with many observers pointing to the manager as a focal point for the underperformance.

Newsweek

Dan Wilson’s connection to the Mariners spans decades. A four-year MLB veteran catcher, he was acquired in a trade before the 1994 season. He entered the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012, transitioned to a color-commentator role the following year, and became the organization’s minor-league catching coordinator in November 2013. After serving as a minor-league special-assignment coordinator, Wilson replaced Scott Servais as manager in August 2024. His long-standing ties to Seattle have complicated any potential departure.

Newsweek

Baseball journalist Ken Rosenthal highlighted Wilson among four managers—Kurt Suzuki (Angels), Craig Albernaz (Orioles) and Torey Lovullo (Diamondbacks)—who could be on the “hot seat.” Rosenthal expressed confidence that Seattle would move on from Wilson, suggesting that the writing was on the wall for his tenure.

Newsweek

If the organization decides to part ways with Wilson, the move would align with a broader pattern of holding managers accountable when veteran players such as catcher Cal Raleigh, pitcher Luis Castillo and utility man Rob Refsnyder underperform. No official statement from the Mariners has been released, leaving the situation open to speculation.

Newsweek

• “I am rather confident that (the Mariners) are going to move on from Dan Wilson, that seems to be the one where the writing is on the wall,” — Ken Rosenthal

Newsweek