# Third name emerges from Mariners' manager search

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-22 15:40 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The Seattle Mariners' search for a new manager narrows to two finalists following the withdrawal of former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli.

## Intelligence Brief
The Seattle Mariners are currently in the final stages of their search for a new manager. Earlier reporting from MLB.com indicates that the team is holding in-person interviews with Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler. This development follows a period of expanding and contracting the candidate list, with several high-profile names being linked to the vacancy throughout late October. Coverage from Yahoo Sports, The Seattle Times, and KIRO 7 News emphasizes the exit of Rocco Baldelli from the process. The former Minnesota Twins manager had previously been identified as a person of interest for the Seattle role, but multiple outlets, including MLB Trade Rumors and Lookout Landing, confirm that Baldelli has withdrawn his name from consideration.


Yahoo Sports further noted that this move also impacted the Los Angeles Angels, who lost Baldelli as a potential managerial candidate when he bowed out of the search process. Context for this search includes the emergence of Jason Kanzler as a key candidate. The New York Times reported that Kanzler, who serves as a farm director for the Cubs, was included in the search. Additional coverage from Seattle Sports provided insight into Kanzler's profile as a new name in the coaching search. Meanwhile, Joe Espada's candidacy is noted by the New York Post, which mentioned that Espada is a finalist for the Seattle job while the Houston Astros continue their own search for a new manager.


Looking forward, the Mariners' process is centered on the final evaluations of the remaining two candidates. While the search once included a wider array of names—including Dodgers executives mentioned by Dodgers Nation—the current focus remains on the in-person interviews with Espada and Kanzler. Coverage does not yet specify the exact date a final hiring decision will be announced, but the team is now working with a significantly reduced list of options after the withdrawal of the former Twins manager.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| MLB Trade Rumors | Joe Espada, Jason Kanzler Reportedly Finalists For Mariners Managerial Job | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOcVFBT2hzTjk1Z0ZJWXpSODFpczFrTFJiYjg0RGxQdEN4NjlrN1I5XzQ1RW44QUw5c0ZfelFSWHpEdFVySnhiQVFKWmxBczB3WEJOMndSZUJmOU9DVFZCbjI0UVZYSTlWb253TDY5aWZyejNEM1dDaDR2WDNIXzY4bmN0X0hQamZwQVlNRDQxelVwVTVLUGtfVTFUNmxSTzM3eGJscG4yZkU3QV9hT3IxTTVub3dzM0F3?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Seattle Mariners Reportedly Down to Two Finalists For Manager's Job | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxQdjB6TVF5cHFGdm8zOVJuRTlES2RFbmxLekhJOWxEWkNUT0R2Yl93b19ZV2tXbXdKRk82TTJ4MDdxUU1sSlJfaEQ3QjNXY2owbkJWSnAzaE5oUXcxek8xSEphUlVZZ0FfQzFFTnFFZXNKZm9CTDhWR01kRm5ONGt0U3hNYklRazNXdVFJeTRB?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli makes decision on managing future amid Mariners interest | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQLVA0RkNVVWtyRmlISzB2UmtWR2R0OTl0aTdvVmtPS3dzcGJGMF8yTm9Pb2k4djY1dHZBSU1udWdITExzLVl6MzE5YWtNMnRHNkZwYnBNMkhILUtOSzBjMmFMaF9lQm00bUYwa1B3ZnJNbWJ2NVByTlEzQTI5WThCYTQtMHlsblRyTWFFVA?oc=5) |
| Lookout Landing | Mariners News: Rocco Baldelli, Freddy Peralta, and Taylor Walls | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxObVdPbGh6RUEwNHdzcXJ4M1J3Q0lBUUxUd2FmWlcwa1V0WlhpVnR2LXp5YmRYaVhSM0s3MUZMVkhDVDFlcDNBXzlaZHl3MldEZ3VxdW4wTUhDbkxSNENRUkc5Zmx6b2JWYlEwaHdEVXZJbzc5eEhJSkkwOWdSb2lyYndjRXlaOElXcmFmTkktS2paMzlvMmpaU0xHSjNtNDFtZEVVaA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Angels Lose Another Managerial Candidate As Baldelli Bows Out | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxPWGdqeHNqOVRXRU9rUHc1d3ZNakd6eEw2M2dGMnRxUG40RkJSaU1VazBCZmNNWWluRHR6dWVyUHhOQVpJLVlyLVh4YWtQOGtwN2gzWEV6TmdrNk83OWVqRDI5TnhJMHlTY0h1XzFKZHEzN3dLTU9BdmFhSlotdlZvSjlWb0VZVWJTRlpUeWp3dHktQVU?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Mariners News: Rocco Baldelli, Freddy Peralta, and Taylor Walls | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQWWJrOEszS1hLYTJhLWpCYWNDQUNrZzBzVWZTM2RXVmRBMTdyMmFNQlB3NzBVLXlKWGdWMFhkdS0yYk83ckxSLWFYdWoxM18wTE45Q2dlbHJyMFVsVWtDUEFhMmVFQkN3bFdCam4tZDVQd2hmemo4cnhDYW8tWHFNZS1XSjhGTTRaSDdkVA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Report: Former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli takes name out of Mariners’ manager race | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxOMmtnZGc4Z2JKQ1dlSHE3WXlfM2tpVVlBRTVFSGEyaThYNHRkLUt0ckVyWndHZHBmYjZBN1gwZHVzekV6Mnd2TlhSVUVTWExVd3g1THctdVdjRGNzb1ByUllSNTRJSTEwUUgxeE56Tm56NXNIRUdIV193aVRuZXpFTzRDaEcxUzZlZ1E?oc=5) |
| KIRO 7 News Seattle | Report: Former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli takes name out of Mariners’ manager race | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxOVkhISFZ0OXE5M3hzWkN6V19aN1lScURMWkljSC1YaEYtTGh4ZGlqaTRMS21RTldxM3h6SWZUeWdlaEZHQzhOYUd1Nlg1OTJXanRWdGthQ1dhdWtoSXBGeF9GbmVfbGpZZ2ZNclBtRktGWHlUME5jZVNYcFRLYVZ1cENmQ3dXWDRXYTdaV0tCd1N3TDQzWWdmZ0ZPeGpNLVQ3X2xKWFJvbkN3ZlMzd240OU5KN3lBODhod09CX3V4MG96SEhDVEZxVUJYUENHRGtPOU52TExHY9IB6wFBVV95cUxObWhyZmM4dlJjSmJJZWp4Rk5FT2EtcVFUbl9QNFhQd29Kdk1KZnhQN2dUWUtXcUFLTkpZZl9rR21wcHJSRzRQcm9jQWFjM0NQUWJFV0N6SjJNYmRiaFpSeS1YcEtUekFZVmc1UXR4UF92Y21NaENGZ3dybjB) |
| MLB.com | Mariners holding in-person interviews with Espada, Kanzler for manager (source) | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxNcTl1VzVsVDZhMXpKd2pZczNaMkJFOEdQVjc3VWpqMmNLZUs2NGlWWFkycWR5eUNsdFdfMnRwYUI4SjEwa2FQUDdpVEw0NUJqc3d6Qm1ERS1jV0U0dE91eEZRVDRqYzdyTHN1bTRHR3Z3bjVnVUZRMUZpV1NZNVdraDNqSk1TRTVMZDVn?oc=5) |
| New York Post | Joe Espada a finalist for open job as Astros still searching for new manager | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxNR0FOaFNqVkdqTXluTG94S2kzWGRyWWIzOFA3Ukdlb1dRcGhLV2xhelRqSVN5Z0R2RHhwdFBlb2czQzhNS001dm9JSmdLNjJzTkI4Q21peUgxcUdPY205NHJQak9IZWZTNjJCcUlOeXZ2Zm1BdW10dk9lM3VnVTIyU2ppTnVDNHBnQzNPVTVlX3hjdHlNeDkzVXZScUtZWmtvZnlEUVl5VDdoc2d5M2xpMHVQdHg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Seattle Mariners Candidate List Expands Beyond Known Names, Per Report | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPam9XOEFlWU1lS0RndlZxVHhnOXpoNk05bTdpQTZkTG9PbG9WODJYTTVFM0JlTW5YMUN0TDVCQ3JhRDZ1R2V3dWZJMkNpX2JBWHJqTlFvNXhmRHJqNWw1U1ZqTnA3RTJRNTNySUZLMDVMMV94eTRBZ0wxakxqYWNKQlZwYUxwbWZsa1h3dUVIY1RfUQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Former MN Twins Manager Drops Out of Running in Seattle | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxPb28tSk1BQm56Z2hXeDBhM0R5STdQaFlOMWZrRFBNM2xhY2N1VVRTVEUteDRycUp6am9VMmxiR0l1WWpoZkZlQXRIQXFjdExrRm5xVnlMYXhFSWpVbVplWXo4THpVV01sdGNLUHZjNmNLRVRDdHpwa3I0UmFUblhqN21PbmM?oc=5) |
| Lookout Landing | Rocco Baldelli withdraws from Mariners manager search | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxOZ2ZpMzh6SnphM2FsS1hoYnVTU3VDOXp1Z0ZZVDB0Z1NFM0JtaGZXT3h0ZXpya290eWtqVlBLR3FTazU5bHVhTWhmVXFDdEk0RVNwMG42RmFleEE1OEZXN1RKNUZLZG9ma2s0czBTYkZLd1dHcEY0aWg5TjUzYm03YWhfYXJvRENJRHlEOHoxck4taE5GSU5sT21ISlN5VVh2aGtFZFo4bGlxVDFUZU9mdmpLRkRGZw?oc=5) |
| Seattle Sports | Drayer: Taking stock of the Mariners’ manager search | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOUXVBdkk1TERzOGZUVEdSMTVnRDBlUVpGTG9sZnl6ZUc3enN5MzRjUE5UbzJhY3hVXzN6TVJVNGtlV1V0RU55NktLWjJ4clU1QmVVV0Q0X0liTnViSVZtZnhYbVV5TkJ2b2xybkpWQW9nTWl0Z1dLVzcyNTlOY1MzYjNZVEJfTFFsamZ2eC1QTXhQb3dmVE9CSUx5Q0JGNllwUFRuVS1n?oc=5) |
| The Seattle Times | Rocco Baldelli withdraws name from Mariners’ manager opening | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxQZTZuNTkyT1JtRXdHbXN6M3pnV3ByM19JM200eVFGenJRM2VhVG9QY1lJaWxVYTFRelNYMVZwcG9QWWZ4WndFY1pVcnpyazJKR3lXVC1sVkFTN2lxUVQxdUlCd2RpNFI1RHpReW9GZnJpSXd3YnlURjNDYmRnSFNCT1gwcml3dEc5dkdkeFZXck1BUW5oMlJxSHk0cl9taGEwSU50dVA3NTI?oc=5) |

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