SEATTLE -- Dan Wilson, who led the Seattle Mariners to the American League Championship Series last year, was fired as manager on Sunday.
On the day of the Mariners' season finale, a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, Wilson was informed by the club that he would not return, and the club formally announced the decision in a social media post hours after the game.
"This season has been very difficult, and of course the results have not been what any of us had expected," Wilson said after the victory. "As a result, it was concluded that today is my last day as manager of the Seattle Mariners."
Wilson, 57, a former catcher for the Mariners who is in the franchise's Hall of Fame, took over as manager when the club fired Scott Servais during the 2024 campaign. Last season, after leading Seattle to a 90-72 record and an American League West title, he finished in third place in AL Manager of the Year voting, behind the Toronto Blue Jays' John Schneider and the Cleveland Guardians' Stephen Vogt, who won the award.
But this season was a struggle in Seattle. Even with Sunday's win, the Mariners finished 76-86. They will head into the offseason with a third-place standing in the AL West, after being officially eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday.
"It's a very difficult day," Wilson said, holding back tears. "We love this city. We love this community. And we appreciate the organization for what it's meant to our family."
As the calendar turned to May, Seattle was in the thick of a mediocre division race at 16-16, and it managed to pull of its only winning month in May, at 15-13. But the summer months were not kind to Wilson's team. A 13-14 June was followed by a 9-15 July.
"Collectively, we failed to meet our own expectations this season," Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a Sunday statement. "Dan and I both care deeply about this organization, these players, and the future of the Mariners. After much discussion it was concluded that a new direction is best for 2027 and beyond."
Seattle's offense simply could not replicate the magic from a season before, and catcher Cal Raleigh was at the head of that line. The All-Star finished second in AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge last season after finishing with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs. A year later, he closed with 23 and 69.
As of Sept. 4, Raleigh's WAR had shrunk from 7.2 last season to 0.9, and along the way, he had authored a higher strikeout rate and a much lower hard-hit rate. The Mariners finished ninth in the majors in runs per game in 2025, but they spent parts of this season dead last.
"I also wish to thank that special group of players in that clubhouse," Wilson said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you over these last couple of seasons. You are an incredibly talented group and have shown an overwhelming resiliency."
In Sunday's postgame media availability, Wilson, who finished with a 187-171 record, also told reporters that the M's have interest in keeping him in the organization in a different capacity, an option he will discuss with his family.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.