After a season of discipline and progressive baseball, Servais, who managed the Mariners from 2016 until he left the team after the 2024 season, was formally hired manager of the Padres in early May 2025. Servais obviously hasn’t forgotten about the team where he made his largest impact as a big-league manager, even with his current position.
A CLASSY GESTURE TO HIS SUCCESSOR
Speaking to reporters before a Padres home game at Petco Park, Servais took a few moments to acknowledge the Mariners’ new chapter under Dan Wilson, the beloved former Mariners catcher and fan favorite who was tapped to lead Seattle following a brief front office role and years of work in player development.
“I want to start by congratulating Dan,” Servais remarked. He is a brilliant baseball mind who knows the demands of that clubhouse and the heart of that city. I really mean it when I say that the Mariners are in good hands.
The message, however, didn’t stop there. Shortly after his appointment became public, Servais disclosed that he had sent Wilson a comprehensive letter in private. Servais claims that the letter was more about discussing the emotional burden of managing in Seattle than it was about giving unsolicited advise.
“I wrote him a few pages,” Servais admitted. “Not telling him how to do the job—he’s his own man—but just giving him some insight into the pressure, the pride, and the passion that come with managing the Mariners. It’s a unique experience, especially when you spend nearly a decade trying to bring a title to that city.”
AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO SEATTLE
Servais’ connection to the Mariners franchise runs deep. Under his leadership, the team ended a 21-year playoff drought in 2022, thrilling fans with a dramatic run to the ALDS. His tenure wasn’t without criticism—particularly in his final season when expectations were high and the team fell just short of the postseason—but his legacy in Seattle is largely positive.
“I poured everything into that job,” Servais said. “And I still love those players, that clubhouse, the fans. But it was time. Time for a new voice. And Dan Wilson—he’s someone who can carry the torch and maybe take it even further.”
Many around the league have viewed Servais’ exit from Seattle as mutual but emotionally charged. Sources close to the Mariners’ front office say the decision to move on was based on a desire for a fresh approach. At the same time, Servais was looking for a new challenge, and the Padres—a talented but underachieving roster—presented the perfect opportunity.
DAN WILSON RESPONDS WITH CLASS
Wilson, who played 12 of his 14 big-league seasons with the Mariners and was an All-Star in 1996, spoke briefly about Servais’ message after being asked about it following the Mariners’ most recent road win in Detroit.
“Scott didn’t have to do that, but he did, and that says everything about the kind of person and leader he is,” Wilson said. “I read his message carefully. I respect what he built here. And while I have my own ideas and identity as a manager, I also plan to build on the culture he created. He laid a strong foundation.”
Wilson also confirmed that he plans to keep some of Servais’ former staffers and philosophies in place, especially those related to player development and clubhouse chemistry.
“There’s no need to reinvent the wheel completely,” Wilson said. “This team was close. We’re going to try to take the next step, and I appreciate everything Scott did to get us to this point.”
A POTENTIAL FUTURE SHOWDOWN
While the two managers may be exchanging pleasantries now, fans are already speculating about the potential for a future postseason clash between Wilson’s Mariners and Servais’ Padres. Both teams boast strong young cores and ownership groups willing to spend. If the pieces fall into place, it’s not hard to imagine a World Series matchup between San Diego and Seattle—perhaps with Servais and Wilson managing from opposite dugouts.
“That would be something,” Servais said with a grin when asked about the possibility. “I think the world of Dan, but if that happens, I’m doing everything I can to beat him. That’s baseball.”
CLOSING ONE DOOR, OPENING ANOTHER
For Servais, the move to San Diego marks both an ending and a new beginning. He inherits a team loaded with talent—Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts, just to name a few—but also a roster that has struggled to live up to expectations.
Still, Servais appears energized by the opportunity and more than willing to carry with him the lessons—and scars—of his Seattle years.
“It’s never easy to leave a place you’ve poured so much into,” Servais reflected. “But I have no regrets. I wish Dan the absolute best. I really do. And if we meet down the line, I hope it’s with something big on the line.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
In a league often dominated by ruthless competition and transient loyalty, the quiet respect between Scott Servais and Dan Wilson is refreshing. Servais’ heartfelt message to his successor underscores the deep emotional bonds that often form between managers and the cities they represent.
Now, with both men stepping into new roles and writing new chapters, all eyes will be on how they lead their respective teams. Whether as competitors or collaborators, one thing is clear: the legacy of leadership in Seattle is in good hands—and it’s being watched closely from San Diego.
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