Skipper Dan Wilson ended up falling short of what would have been a piece of Seattle Mariners history.

Wilson, who was in his first full season as a manager, finished third place in the American League Manager of the Year voting on Tuesday. If he had won, he would have been the first M’s manager to take home the award in his first full season, and just the second to win the award overall in franchise history.

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But Wilson finished third, and the award went Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, who was the Mariners’ bullpen coach in 2023, for the second straight season.

“All three guys did amazing jobs. Stephen Vogt, hard to argue with that, right?” MLB Network’s Jon Morosi told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Wednesday. “… What he did to bring his team back from that double-digit deficit (in the AL Central) against the Tigers, win the division – extraordinary. So there’s no wrong answers anywhere around here.”

Morosi was one of the 30 Baseball Writers’ Association of America members who voted on the award. He gave his first-place vote to Toronto’s John Schneider, his second-place vote to Vogt and his third-place vote to Wilson.

Morosi explained the reasoning for his ballot during his conversation with Wyman and Bob. He went with Schneider as his first-place vote due to the Blue Jays’ 20-win improvement that resulted in going from worst to first in the AL East, which Morosi called the toughest division in the AL.

“I just thought that what he did was the most impressive beginning to end,” Morosi said.

Wilson a deserving finalist

Wilson led Seattle to a 90-72 record and its first AL West title and ALCS appearance in 24 years. He became the first first-year manager in team history to reach the playoffs or win a division title.

Morosi believes Wilson was a deserving finalist and noted he saw some growth from the rookie skipper as the season progressed.

“His work with this team and getting this group to believe, finding ways to very successfully integrate two major bats that were acquired at the deadline, really, I think, on the fly adjusting some bullpen roles – I realize Game 7 didn’t work out in Toronto, but of course the ballots were in long before that – and by in large, I think he did an improved job of handling his relievers as the season went along,” Morosi said.

“And listen, he got the most out of a lineup that at times was inconsistent. So I think for a lot of different reasons, I felt very comfortable with my top three. Glad that Dan Wilson was in it, and maybe if the Mariners win the division again next year, he’ll be the best of the winners.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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