Mariners could target D-Backs Torey Lovullo as manager, if they're willing to spend

It's time for the Mariners to look toward the future, and that starts with possibly finding a new manager for the 2027 season. With Dan Wilson unlikely to return, all eyes will shift to Jerry Dipoto, who, let's be honest, hasn't exactly had the best track record when it comes to hiring managers in the Pacific Northwest.

With his own future being called into question, Dipoto may have to do something different this time around. After Scott Servais and Wilson, maybe, just maybe, he should consider hiring someone who actually knows a thing or two about managing a baseball team.

Currently, Torey Lovullo is sitting in the manager hot seat, and it's not just because he's in Arizona. The Diamondbacks are entering the final week of the regular season, and they are hanging on by a thread. Lovullo has acknowledged that making the postseason could determine his fate, and the the odds of that are slim. He is in the final year of his contract, and Arizona and Lovullo seem likely to part ways at the end of the 2026 season.

“I understand it, it’s the realities of this game," Lovullo said, reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “And you got to win. That’s what it comes down to. I think we won a lot here. Have we won enough."

What Torey Lovullo has that Dan Wilson doesn't

Maybe what hasn't worked in Arizona could work in Seattle. And maybe Lovullo could give the Mariners something they haven't had in a while: a manager with experience running a major-league team.

Lovullo has been Arizona's manager since 2017 and has seen more than 700 wins with the organization. He has dealt with the full range of situations that come with managing a major-league team. He's seen rebuilding, contending, injuries, young players and postseason baseball. He's even experienced something the Mariners have yet to see, a World Series appearance. He really has been through it all, gaining plenty of experience along the way.

More importantly, Lovullo has a reputation for building relationships with his players, and creating a collaborative environment. Something that sounds familiar in Seattle. The Mariners have valued these qualities under Wilson, especially the connection he has with the players. If someone with more experience could bring similar values to the Mariners, they might just be what Seattle needs for the next season.

Some, however, have viewed Lovullo as too lenient with certain players, with Ketel Marte being a clear example. But there is another way to look at it. Lovullo has spent years managing a difficult situation with one of Arizona's most important players while keeping the team together and competitve. Whatever thoughts some might have about Marte's behavior, Louvullo's job was to manage the situation, and he did just that while leading the Diamondbacks through winning seasons and all the way to a World Series in 2023.

It may help that Torey Lovullo has a link to Jerry Dipoto

Jerry Dipoto and Torey Lovullo are no strangers. The two crossed paths in Boston back in 2015. Dipoto joined the Red Sox as a consultant while Lovullo served as Boston's interim manager during John Farrell's medical leave. Lovullo went 28-20 during his stint there.

Mike Hazen was also in Boston at the time, eventually becoming the Red Sox's general manager before leaving for Arizona in 2016. Hazen then hired Lovullo as the D-back's manager.

So hiring Lovullo might be a long way from that Red Sox connection, but the idea isn't random. Dipoto is already familiar with Lovullo, and Hazen's decision to hire him in Arizona highlights how Lovullo is viewed in the baseball world.

And while Seattle has tried the player-friendly, relationship-focused manager route, that doesn't mean it isn't working. It could be that the Mariners need someone with more experience to execute those values. Something that Lovullo might be able to do.

The Mariners' cheapness could get in the way

Unfortunately, this is where the manager search for the Mariners could run into a well known problem in the Pacific Northwest: money.

Seattle has been known for paying on the lower end of the salary spectrum, and it's no different when it comes to managers. Reports put Wilson's salary at just over $1 million.

Meanwhile, Lovullo's salary reportedly sits closer to $5 million annually, putting him near the top of the spectrum. While Lovullo might not require that same figure if he were to come to Seattle, the Mariners would likely have to pay considerably more than they are used to if they want to bring a manager with experience to T-Mobile Park.

The Mariners say they want more, but aren't always willing to pay for it. While Lovullo wouldn't magically fix the Mariners, he might be one of the more experienced names available that could come in and offer new ideas and a unique approach. If the Mariners really want change, they'll have to decide what it's worth.

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