Mariners expected to make Dan Wilson job decision if one thing happens originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Mariners have had a very disappointing 2026 season. From being on the cusp of the 2025 MLB World Series to now being on the outside looking in on the playoff hunt, this has not been a good year at all.
Considering how bad the year's gone, it should come as little surprise that talk about Dan Wilson's job has come up. It's a real question as to whether he'll be around next year or not.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale revealed a lot about Wilson's job security, reporting that the Mariners manager's job relies on one thing: whether the team makes the postseason or not.
Dan Wilson's Mariners job relies on postseason berth
"In the American League, Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is expected to be fired if the Mariners miss the playoffs," Nightengale reports.
This report from Nightengale shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as the Mariners missing the postseason this year would almost require some major changes.
The roster isn't in bad shape, as this team should be playing a lot better than they are. The issue for the Mariners is that the stars are playing below expectations, and a lot of others are simply not playing well enough.
In the American League West, the Mariners are 5.0 games behind the Houston Astros. Considering how bad the start to the year was for the Astros, this five-game difference is incredibly disappointing for Seattle.
MORE: Red Sox get 8.2% chance to win World Series, which is more than Yankees’ odds
They've dropped 21 of their last 32 games heading into Sunday, August 16. They're 3.0 games back in the AL Wild Card, which has a sub-500 team in the 61-63 Texas Rangers holding the third and final spot.
At 58-66, the Mariners somehow have a chance to make the postseason due to how bad the AL is this year. But things aren't looking great for Seattle and, in turn, for Wilson's status as the team's manager, based on Nightengale's report.
Raleigh and the other stars need to step it up over the next month and a half; otherwise, Wilson's time as the Mariners' manager might be coming to an end if they miss the postseason.
More MLB news:
- Phillies receive slightly worrying 65% playoff odds projection from ESPN
- Dodgers prospect Kendall George to undergo knee surgery months after viral bat dog incident
- Dave Dombrowski reveals why Phillies didn't trade for a righty-hitting outfielder
- Brewers ‘toyed’ with idea of trading for Padres closer Mason Miller
- Yankees ‘dabbled’ in trade talks for Tarik Skubal despite not willing to deal George Lombard Jr.