Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais could be on the verge of becoming the Mariners’ new manager, according to multiple reports.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com calls Servais the “strong frontrunner” for the job and Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com writes that there’s a “strong chance” Servais will be joining the Mariners, “probably as manager.”
The move makes sense, as new Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto was previously the Angels’ general manager and Servais was his assistant. Dipoto left the Angels after losing a power struggle with longtime manager Mike Scioscia and Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that Servais “has butted heads with Scioscia in the past.”
In other words, Servais was on Dipoto’s side of the Angels power struggle and would now be leaving to rejoin Dipoto in Seattle, this time as manager. Prior to joining the Angels he was the Rangers’ senior director of player development and Servais also played 11 seasons in the majors as a light-hitting catcher.
Lloyd McClendon was fired as Mariners manager shortly after the front office regime change. Seattle finished the season with a 76-86 record.
