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Why the Mariners kept their pitching coach staff intact despite rough second half performance

Following a disappointing 2026 campaign, the Seattle organization initiated significant changes to the coaching staff to pursue a cultural reset. Executive Jerry Dipoto highlighted that the major league squad had drifted away from the development standards established in the minor leagues, pointing particularly to defensive shortcomings that created extra pressure on the rotation.

Despite these struggles and a league-worst WAR for the pitching staff down the stretch, pitching coaches Pete Woodworth and Trent Blank were retained. Dipoto defended this decision by highlighting their long-term track record of success and strong communication with players from 2021 through the middle of the 2026 season, emphasizing a desire not to dismantle a proven program based on a few months of poor results.

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