Jerry

Dipoto

Hiring a hitting coach before hiring a manager is a little odd, but the Mariners obviously wanted Gillman back. He was employed by the team as a minor league hitting coordinator from 2022-25 before spending last season as the Nationals’ director of hitting.

Rocco Baldelli might have been the favorite for the gig before withdrawing from consideration. Now it’s down to Espada, who spent the last three years managing the Astros, and Kanzler, the Cubs’ farm director who would be managing for the first time. A decision should come before the end of the week.

Also on the list is Jason Kanzler, who is currently the Cubs’ farm director after previously serving as a hitting coach for the Astros. It doesn’t sound like the Mariners have finished bringing in new candidates quite yet.

Dipoto mentioned that Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Cooper Criswell being hurt has left the Mariners “operating short for quite a while now.” He also said the market is slow-to-develop. The Mariners seem like they have a surplus of starting pitching to deal from if they need to make a deal. In contrast to the bullpen situation, Dipoto said the Mariners hitters just need to “do the things that they have historically done.”

It was possible Seattle’s ownership would decide to turn over their front office after a down year, but the Mariners are still on the periphery of the playoff picture, and it appears Dipoto isn’t going anywhere. He helped end the franchise’s 21-year postseason drought a couple years ago and has been at the helm since 2015.

McKay will oversee baseball development at all levels including player and staff development, mental skills and education across the organization, according to a team statement. He’s been with Seattle for the last eight years and has served as the club’s head of player development for the last seven years.

Hollander previously served as vice president and assistant general manager of baseball operations and has been with the organization since 2016. He’ll continue to operate beneath Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. The promotion ensures that Hollander will remain with Seattle and won’t be poached to lead another front office this upcoming offseason.

“I view this as another way to continue to give back to an organization and community that has always supported me, and my family,” Griffey said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this organization’s success in any way possible.” Griffey, who spent 13 seasons with the Mariners, becomes the first former player to hold partnership interest in the team. He was named as senior advisor to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred this past January.

The game will take place at Dodger Stadium next year before heading to T-Mobile Park in Seattle in 2023. The Mariners previously hosted the game in the third year of the stadium’s existence in 2001 when it was previously known as Safeco Field. With a host of promising youngsters, odds are the Mariners will have a handful of players participating in the All-Star festivities by the time 2023 rolls around.

A well-deserved reward for Servais, who has guided Seattle to a 71-62 record so far this season despite a -57 run differential. He’s already the second-winningest manager in franchise history in his sixth year with the organization. The team also announced Wednesday morning that general manager Jerry Dipoto has been promoted to the role of president of baseball operations. He’ll get a multi-year contract extension as well.