Mariners Make Stunning Manager Decision, Pass Over Former Astros Skipper

The Seattle Mariners have reportedly made a surprising decision in their search for a new manager, passing over an experienced former division rival in favor of a much less conventional candidate. Seattle is in the process of hiring 36-year-old Jason Kanzler, the Chicago Cubs‘ director of player development, as its next manager. The decision comes after a lengthy search that included former Houston Astros skipper Joe Espada among the finalists. The two candidates had previously been identified as frontrunners for the position, with Heavy reporting on their interviews in October.