The Mariners on Monday announced a series of departures and promotions as they set their coaching staff for the 2022 season. Manager Scott Servais was already known to be returning after agreeing to a multi-year extension on Sept. 1, but there will be some changes on his staff.
Tony Arnerich, who has spent the past two seasons as the team’s minor league field coordinator and catching coordinator, will be one of two co-hitting coaches on next year’s club. Also being promoted to the role of hitting coach and to the broader title of director of hitting strategy is Jarret DeHart, who was an assistant hitting coach in each of the past two seasons.
Seattle is also adding longtime director of player development Andy McKay to the Major League coaching staff, where he’ll be in uniform and serve as a Major League coach and senior director of baseball development. It’ll be his first year on the coaching staff but his seventh in the organization.
A more recognizable name for many fans is likely Kristopher Negron, who retired as a player just two years ago but will now be the Mariners’ first base coach. Negron worked as an assistant to McKay in 2020, his first year with the team, and won Triple-A Manager of the Year honors this past season in guiding the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate to a league championship.
Beyond this quartet, the Mariners will also welcome back pitching coach Pete Woodworth, third base coach Manny Acta, bullpen coach Trent Blank, infield coach Perry Hill and Major League field coordinator Carson Vitale.
Notably absent from the list of returnees are now-former hitting coach Tim Laker and now-former bench coach Jared Sandberg. Laker, the Mariners announced, declined an offer to return to the team in 2022, which prompted the promotions for DeHart and Arnerich. Sandberg, meanwhile, was not asked back.
Sandberg’s departure from the coaching staff leaves the Mariners without a bench coach, but it doesn’t appear that they’ll make a hire in that regard. The Mariners announced today’s staff as their finalized staff for the 2022 season and, asked specifically by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer about the lack of a bench coach (Twitter link), president of baseball operations confirmed that the collection of coaches announced today will “provide [Servais] with a variety of voices he trusts.”
“Our mantra here is ’Doesn’t Matter, Get Better’ and our coaches embodied that in 2021,” Servais said in a statement within today’s press release. “Each and every day they assisted in helping our players improve and that hard work showed up on the field. Between the returning staff and the coaches we’ve been able to add from our player development group, every person on this staff has had a hand in helping our players succeed in their careers, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of that success in 2022.”
I am glad to see Negron’s name there. I think he will do a great job.
Things are looking up.
Interesting re: Sandburg. He was a rising star in the Rays minor league managing system, who went to Seattle because (a) he’s from there and (b) obviously Kevin Cash isn’t going anywhere. Wonder who (if anyone) will pick him up.
Maddon (Angels) and Shelton (Pirates) both were in Tampa same time as Sandberg and they both are looking for 3rd base coaches for next season.
Mariners fans have waited a long time for this… go get em…
As unrealistic as it may seem, I’d like five World Series titles in a decade for my Braves. The other five can go to the Mariners, Brewers, Rockies, Tigers and Orioles.
Make it four and throw one in for the “Guardians.” 73 years and counting since their last World Series championship when known as “they who shall not be named.”
They’re going to have to put more effort into their new name and logo first.
I’d gladly take an appearance up to this point, but yeah, I want at least one ring before I die.
As an M’s fan, I’m fine with this
Interesting that Tim Laker declined to return.
Anyone know why Tom Laker declined to return?
Maybe Tim Laker just got old and tired like everybody finally does.