Mariners Rumors: Scott Servais linked to NL Central managerial job

Former Mariners manager Scott Servais was a sort of polarizing figure in Seattle baseball. A lot of fans loved him as he was with the team through the successes in the late 2010s as well as the rebuild, and he seemed like a player's manager through the most recent run. However, others weren't too fond of Servais, and a lot of fans grew frustrated by some of his bullpen decisions, and other in-game mistakes.

No matter how you shake it, Servais is the second-best manager in Mariners' history, and it's not particularly close. While Lou Piniella sits atop the throne with 840 wins, Servais is not far off with 680; then there is a large gap between him and Jim Lefebvre with 233 wins. Servais was also the second-longest-tenured manager for the Mariners and ushered a new era of Seattle baseball along with Jerry Dipoto. Unfortunately, that all came to an end this year as the struggles mounted. The team opted to let Servais go and bring in a franchise icon, Dan Wilson, to lead the team.

In a "what have you done for me lately" world, many teams expect results and quickly, as was the case with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds had a tough 2022 season when they only won 62 games, but quickly bounced back in 2023 and looked like one of the more exciting teams in baseball. After a surprisingly solid 2023 season that saw them post a winning record (82-80) and the emergence of a superstar in Elly De La Cruz, the team has dealt with a number of injuries, resulting in a losing season. The team decided to move on from former Mariners third baseman, David Bell, who had led the team since 2019.

Scott Servais could be an option for a young and exciting Cincinnati Reds team

As the Reds look to replace Bell, Servais will be looking to get back on his feet and the Reds seem like the perfect opportunity. In fact, Charlie Goldsmith, who covers the Reds for the Cincinnati Enquirer, went as far to suggest Servais as a potential replacement for Bell.

Cincinnati, like Seattle, has their superstar in De La Cruz, along with a few other exciting offensive players. The team looks like they have found their ace in former top pick Hunter Greene and they have a few other interesting options to fill out the rotation. The Mariners and Reds have been familiar trade partners over the years, so Servais might be relatively familiar with the team.

The NL Central used to be dominated by the Cardinals but has since become a lot more competitive with three different division champions in the last four years. The Brewers were a surprisingly good team this year, while the Cubs were a major disappointment, and the Cardinals are in limbo...and just old. The Pirates and Reds, though built entirely different, are both full of young talent and look to continue the NL Central carousel in the near future. Scott Servais was able to help end the longest playoff drought when the Mariners clinched a 2022 postseason spot, and he could look to help the Reds make just their second playoff appearance since 2013.