We've got our first new manager hiring of the 2026-27 MLB offseason!
The Seattle Mariners are hiring Jason Kanzler, the Chicago Cubs' director of player development, as their new skipper, a source tells ESPN. Kanzler, managing for the first time at any level, will replace Dan Wilson, who told reporters at the end of the regular season that he would not be returning.
The Houston Astros followed by bringing back former catcher Brad Ausmus as the team's next manager.
Which major league teams will change managers next? And who could be next in line?
ESPN will track all of the managerial hirings and firings -- and provide potential top replacements for every opening as they happen.
Houston Astros
New manager hired: Brad Ausmus (Nov. 11), former Yankees bench coach
2026 manager: Joe Espada (Oct. 14)
Joe Espada, who guided the Houston Astros to two American League West titles in his three seasons, will not be returning as manager of the team in 2027.
The Astros, who were swept in two games by the Chicago White Sox in the AL wild-card series, said that they would not be renewing Espada's contract when it expires. Overall, Espada, 51, was 256-229 as manager in Houston.
Seattle Mariners
New manager hired: Jason Kanzler (Nov. 3), former Cubs director of player development
2026 manager: Dan Wilson (Sept. 27)
Wilson is out in his second full season in Seattle after being hired in August 2024 to replace Scott Servais.
The Mariners entered the 2026 season as division favorites and a potential top American League contender coming off a 2025 playoff run that saw them eight outs away from the franchise's first World Series appearance before falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS. Seattle got off to a slow start, with just four wins in its first 13 games. With season-long struggles from big stars like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, coupled with inconsistent pitching and an underperforming offense, the Mariners never got to more than four games over .500 on the season.
"This season has been very difficult, and of course the results have not been what any of us had expected," Wilson said after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Angels. "As a result, it was concluded that today is my last day as manager of the Seattle Mariners."
Los Angeles Angels
2026 manager: Kurt Suzuki (Oct. 21)
Suzuki lasted just one year as Angels skipper, with the team announcing they would not pick up his 2027 club option. A former catcher, he played the final two of his 16 big-league seasons (2021-22) with the Angels, then signed a one-year deal to manage the team last October.
Los Angeles' 62-100 mark in 2026 represented the first 100-loss season in franchise history, and a 10-game drop-off from the 2025 team, managed by Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery.
Longtime Angels owner Arte Moreno sold the club to Stan Kroenke in September. Kroenke won't officially take over until the first quarter of 2027.
