In a shocking turn of events, the Seattle Mariners are poised to make a leadership change, as sources familiar with the matter have informed The Athletic that manager Scott Servais will be replaced by former player Dan Wilson. An official announcement confirming the decision is expected to be made on Thursday.

The Mariners' recent performance has been nothing short of disastrous, as they went from holding a comfortable 10-game lead in the American League West to now facing a five-game deficit in the standings. Their once-promising march towards the postseason has been jeopardized, leaving the franchise still in pursuit of its first pennant.

Under Servais' guidance, the Mariners have struggled with a frustrating situation. Despite boasting an elite pitching staff, the team has consistently been let down by a slumping offense that ranks among the bottom in the league across multiple metrics.

Servais, 59, had served as the Mariners' manager for nine seasons, starting from his appointment in 2016. During his tenure, he compiled a respectable record of 680 wins and 642 losses, equating to a .514 winning percentage. The Mariners made their only postseason appearance under Servais' leadership in 2022, where they managed to win a playoff series against the Blue Jays in the wild-card round before succumbing to a sweep by the Astros in the ALDS.

While the playoff berth ended a remarkable 21-year postseason drought for the Mariners, subsequent seasons saw them miss out on the playoffs in 2023, and now, they find themselves in danger of repeating that outcome in 2024, despite a promising start to the season.

Wilson, a former Mariners player from 1994 to 2005, including a significant time as Randy Johnson's batterymate, has been chosen as Servais' replacement. Although he lacks experience on a big-league coaching staff or managerial level, Wilson is a familiar face around the current team. He has been involved with the Mariners as a special assignment coordinator during spring training, fostering a close relationship with starting catcher Cal Raleigh. Wilson has also filled in as a broadcaster for the team's ROOT Sports affiliate.

Taking over a team with a 64-64 record and sitting five games outside of a playoff spot, it remains unclear whether Wilson will be appointed as the permanent manager or if his position will be temporary. Regardless, this decision will undoubtedly intensify the scrutiny on general manager Jerry Dipoto, who assumed the role in September 2015.

The Mariners will kick off their upcoming series on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, setting the stage for Wilson's debut as the new manager, a role that carries the hopes of the organization and its fans for a revived playoff push.