Two days into free agency, the offseason’s first managerial hire is done, and the labor fight that could shut the sport down on Dec. 1 took another turn.
Seattle Hires Jason Kanzler
The Mariners hired Jason Kanzler as their new manager on Tuesday, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Kanzler spent the last three seasons as the Cubs’ director of player development. He replaces Dan Wilson, who was let go on Sept. 27 after managing the Mariners since August 2024.
Two jobs are still open: the Astros, whose search is being led by new general manager Randy Flores, and the Angels, who declined Kurt Suzuki’s option on Oct. 21 after a 62-100 season. I have covered the Astros’ home at Daikin Park.
The Latest CBA Offer Is Rejected
Also on Tuesday, MLB made a new proposal in collective bargaining talks that would push the start of a salary cap back to 2028 instead of 2027, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The players association quickly rejected it. The cap remains the main sticking point, and the current agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1. A lockout is widely expected if there is no deal by then.
Rays Keep Rasmussen
The Rays also picked up Drew Rasmussen’s $20 million club option, and Tampa Bay president of baseball operations Erik Neander said the team has “every intention right now” of keeping him in the rotation.
What’s Next
Awards week starts Monday, Nov. 9, and the eight players who got qualifying offers, which I covered here, have until Nov. 17 to decide. I will keep tracking the Astros and Angels searches and the CBA talks.
Featured photo: White Sox at Mariners in Seattle, 2015 by Jsayre64, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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