
The San Diego Padres have made a strategic move by hiring Scott Servais as a special assistant within their baseball operations and player development departments, according to a report by The Athletic’s Dennis Lin. This marks Servais’ first role since parting ways with the Seattle Mariners as their manager in August. His extensive experience in both management and front-office roles positions him as a valuable asset to the Padres, who are looking to enhance their organizational structure.
Scott Servais is best known for his nine-season tenure as the manager of the Seattle Mariners and his 11-year playing career in Major League Baseball. However, his expertise extends beyond the field; he has significant front-office experience. Before his managerial role, he served as the assistant GM for the Los Angeles Angels for four seasons and was involved in player development with the Texas Rangers from 2006 to 2010. Notably, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller worked alongside Servais in Texas, and Preller had previously interviewed him for a managerial position during the 2015-16 offseason.
Despite his new position in San Diego, Servais expressed a desire to continue pursuing a managerial role in the future. Although he was not associated with any managerial openings during the recent offseason, this new role allows him to maintain his connection to the game while exploring future opportunities. It reflects his ongoing commitment to baseball and his aspiration to return to the big leagues as a manager.
During his time as the Mariners’ skipper, Servais achieved a record of 680 wins and 642 losses, notably ending the franchise’s long-standing playoff drought by guiding the 2022 team to a wild card berth. That season, the Mariners triumphed over the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series before being eliminated by the Houston Astros in the ALDS. Following heightened expectations in 2023, the Mariners fell short of making the playoffs despite achieving 88 wins. The 2024 season was challenging, characterized by a midseason collapse that saw the team lose a ten-game lead in the AL West. At the time of his dismissal, Seattle’s record stood at 64-64, yet the team rebounded with a strong finish under new manager Dan Wilson.
Additionally, Lin reports that former first baseman Matt Adams is anticipated to join the coaching staff for the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso. Adams, who has a decade of experience in MLB, announced his retirement from playing in September. In his retirement statement, he expressed a keen interest in pursuing coaching opportunities, indicating his desire to remain involved in the baseball community.
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