One of the biggest names remaining in the Mariners manager search has reportedly withdrawn from the competition, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports: Rocco Baldelli has reportedly withdrawn from the race, citing “family considerations.”
Baldelli, 45, is a Rhode Island native and spends some of his time there, but he also has a home in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he was based during his seven-year professional playing career as a member of the Rays. For the past year, he has worked with the Dodgers as a special assistant/advisor to President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. That may have been enough to get across the coast for Baldelli, who has three children under five, including three-year-old twins.
Baldelli is a popular name in the Mariners coaching search thanks to his strong reputation for analytical skills. He joined the Rays’ front office shortly after his playing career ended and was a part of the organization – arguably the friendliest front office in sports – until leaving to take the Twins’ vacant managerial position. Baldelli was with Minnesota from 2019-2025, overseeing the Twins to three playoff appearances but also a deeply disappointing 2024 where the team finished fourth in the AL Central despite being favored in the preseason ratings. The Twins parted ways with Baldelli after 2025, when the Twins again finished fourth in the Central.
Baldelli’s playing career was unfortunately cut short as he battled mitochondrial channelopathy, a rare genetic disease that affects the way the mitochondria in your cells produce energy, which can cause many problems, from fatigue to diabetes to persistent muscle weakness or soreness.
The Mariners will now turn their attention elsewhere as they continue to narrow their candidate pool, as they were reportedly hoping to make a hire before the end of the month. They will have plenty of competition to attract said candidates, even just in the AL West, with the Astros and Angels looking for new managers. The Astros made a hiring move today, hiring Conner Watson away from the Cleveland Guardians to become hitting manager. Watson has been the Guardians’ assistant director of strike development for the past two years; Previously, he worked at Driveline in their Arizona location, serving as their hitting manager for four years after leaving the small college coaching corps.
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