Mariners pursue Rocco Baldelli and Joe Espada for manager job
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Seattle Mariners are reportedly eyeing Rocco Baldelli and interviewing Joe Espada for their managerial opening.
The hire could land by end of October, before the offseason begins.
Background
The Seattle Mariners have a vacant managerial job and are searching for a new skipper, with Jerry Dipoto as the team's president of baseball operations. Rocco Baldelli, the former Minnesota Twins manager and 2019 AL Manager of the Year, spent this past season as a special advisor to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. Joe Espada became available after the Houston Astros decided he will not return as manager in 2027. The search has reportedly drawn wide interest, with the pool possibly expanding from 15 or 20 names to as many as 30 or 40.
How it unfolded
- Oct 14, 2026Jon Morosi described the Mariners as being in a favorable position in their manager search.
- Oct 15, 2026Joe Espada officially will not return as Astros manager in 2027, leaving the door open for him to take the Mariners role; Jon Heyman's New York Post report linked Rocco Baldelli to the Mariners' opening.
- Oct 17, 2026The Mariners were reportedly interested in former Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli for their managerial opening.
- Oct 18, 2026Reports said the Mariners have interest in Baldelli and are also interviewing former Astros manager Joe Espada; Don Mattingly agreed to remain with the Phillies.
- Oct 19, 2026Jim Bowden reported the Mariners are making progress and hope to choose finalists by mid-to-late next week and finish hiring by the end of October.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Jon Heyman reported the Mariners have interest in Rocco Baldelli for the vacant managerial job.
- Insider
- Jim Bowden said the Mariners stay under the radar but are making progress, hoping to pick finalists by mid-to-late next week and finish hiring by the end of October.
Still unverified
The Mariners' interest in Rocco Baldelli is described as "reportedly" based on Jon Heyman's report.