Rocco Baldelli Pulls Out of Seattle’s Manager Hunt
WHO:
MLB.com - Seattle also interviewed White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven, who is no longer in contention, and discussed former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, who is no longer being considered.
MLB.com - Joe Espada, 51, managed Houston for three years after serving as its bench coach for six seasons. Jason Kanzler, 36, led the Cubs’ farm system for three seasons and has no managerial experience at any level.
MLB Trade Rumors - Former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler were the only two known remaining candidates for Seattle’s managerial job; additional, unidentified candidates were reportedly also in the mix.
MLB Trade Rumors - President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto indicated he would prefer an experienced manager, rather than a first-time MLB skipper.
Lookout Landing - Rocco Baldelli, 45, withdrew from consideration for the Seattle Mariners’ managerial job, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Sportskeeda - Los Angeles Dodgers executive Rocco Baldelli withdrew from Seattle’s managerial search, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli has three children under age five, including three-year-old twins.
Lookout Landing - The Mariners are continuing to narrow their pool of managerial candidates.
Lookout Landing - The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels are also seeking new managers.
WHAT:
MLB.com - Espada and Kanzler were scheduled for in-person interviews at T-Mobile Park; each had already completed two rounds of virtual interviews. The in-person meetings included ownership, front-office executives, and coaches retained for 2027.
MLB.com - Both Espada and Kanzler were on Dusty Baker’s coaching staff during Houston’s 2022 World Series title run.
MLB.com - Baldelli won the 2019 AL Manager of the Year Award.
MLB.com - Jerry Dipoto said Major League managing experience was “not a prerequisite,” but “it would be preferred.”
MLB Trade Rumors - The Mariners’ managerial hiring process was described as being “in an advanced stage.”
MLB Trade Rumors - Baldelli managed the Twins to three AL Central titles and a 527-505 record over seven seasons, including one playoff-series win: a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays in the 2023 Wild Card Series.
MLB Trade Rumors - Minnesota went 70-92 in 2025 and conducted a wide-ranging fire sale at that season’s trade deadline.
MLB Trade Rumors - Baldelli said after being fired that he hoped to manage again and said, “I owe my family a little time.”
MLB Trade Rumors - The Nationals and Angels reportedly considered Baldelli for their managerial vacancies, though it was unclear whether he interviewed with either team.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli reportedly removed himself from the Mariners’ managerial search, saying the decision involved “family considerations.”
Lookout Landing - Baldelli worked for the Dodgers as a special assistant and adviser to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli managed the Minnesota Twins from 2019 through 2025 and oversaw three playoff appearances.
Lookout Landing - Minnesota finished fourth in the American League Central in 2024, despite being favored in preseason odds, and again finished fourth in 2025. The Twins parted ways with Baldelli after the 2025 season.
Lookout Landing - The Astros hired Conner Watson from the Cleveland Guardians as hitting director. Watson had been the Guardians’ assistant director of hitting development for two years and previously worked four years as Driveline’s Hitting Lead at its Arizona location.
Sportskeeda - Fans reacted to Baldelli’s withdrawal; the headline quoted the reaction, “Nobody wants to manage Mariners.”
WHERE:
MLB.com - The Mariners’ in-person interviews were scheduled to take place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
MLB Trade Rumors - Before joining the Cubs, Kanzler spent five seasons in Houston’s organization, including two seasons working with Espada on the Astros’ coaching staff.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli is originally from Rhode Island, spends part of his time there, and also has a home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli was based in St. Petersburg during his seven-year professional playing career with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli joined the Rays’ front office after his playing career and remained with the organization until taking Minnesota’s managerial vacancy.
Lookout Landing - Watson previously worked at Driveline’s Arizona location.
WHEN:
MLB Trade Rumors - Dan Wilson said before Seattle’s final game that he would not return in 2027; the managerial search had been underway for almost a full month.
Lookout Landing - Seattle reportedly hoped to hire a manager before the end of the month.
WHY:
MLB.com - Seattle’s belief was that the distance from home was a factor in Baldelli’s withdrawal; he and his wife have three young children in Florida.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli cited “family considerations” for withdrawing. The article noted that he has three young children and homes in Rhode Island and Florida.
HOW:
Lookout Landing - Baldelli’s playing career was cut short by mitochondrial channelopathy, described as a rare genetic condition affecting how cells’ mitochondria produce energy and potentially causing fatigue, diabetes, persistent muscle weakness, or pain.
Lookout Landing - Baldelli was considered a prominent Mariners candidate partly because of his reputation for working effectively with analytics and his experience in the analytics-friendly Rays organization.
Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from consideration for the Mariners’ managerial job, citing family considerations and his three young children. Seattle’s search is in an advanced stage, with former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs player-development director Jason Kanzler among the remaining candidates, and both are scheduled for in-person interviews at T-Mobile Park. Baseball operations president Jerry Dipoto says major league managing experience is preferred but not required; Espada managed Houston for three years, while Kanzler has no managerial experience.