After 90-win year, Servais an AL MOY finalist

SEATTLE -- Scott Servais led one of the youngest rosters in the American League to the doorstep of the postseason, far and away exceeding the expectations that perhaps even he had entering the 2021 season.

For his efforts, the 54-year-old Servais has been named a finalist for the AL Manager of the Year Award, the winner of which will be announced on Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network. The Astros’ Dusty Baker and the Rays’ Kevin Cash are the other finalists.

This is the first career nomination for Servais, who just completed his sixth season in Seattle. He received one vote for the award in 2016, finishing in sixth place.

• All-time Manager of the Year Award winners

With the Mariners’ 90-win season in ‘21, Servais brought his overall managerial record to 438-432, and his win tally trails only all-time great Lou Piniella in franchise history. Piniella is the only other Seattle manager to win the award, receiving the honor in 1995 and 2001, two of the most significant seasons in club history.

“Scott had a magnificent season in every way,” said Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. “While dealing with a variety of adversities, he remained focused in leading our team. I believe his overall decision making, especially with bullpen management, was about as flawless as you’ll see over the course of a long season. He deserves this recognition. I can’t think of a more deserving candidate.”

What stood out most about Servais’ managing last season -- beyond being the anchor of an incredibly loyal clubhouse -- was his pitching management, especially with a revamped bullpen that emerged as one of the game’s best. Much of the relief corps’ credit goes to the Mariners’ front office for accumulating under-the-radar talent, but it was on Servais’ shoulders to effectively call on the right relievers in the most fitting situations. The Mariners only once used a reliever three days in a row.

• Complete 2021 awards coverage

Seattle opened the season with a six-man rotation to govern its young starters’ workloads, but the club quickly sustained significant injuries that forced Servais to deploy by-design bullpen games each turn through the rotation in May and June. And though the results of those games weren’t glowing, Servais navigated his relief staff without completely taxing it due to overuse.

Servais was mostly working with a new-look ‘pen, one that transformed from the AL’s worst to the Majors’ fourth-best by wins above replacement, per FanGraphs. Overseeing the relievers effectively was a huge factor in the Mariners overcoming a minus-51 run differential.

Intangibly, Servais also weathered difficult off-the-field challenges that impacted the clubhouse, notably the resignation of team president and CEO Kevin Mather at the onset of Spring Training and the polarizing trade of clubhouse leader Kendall Graveman ahead of the Trade Deadline. One of the more endearing components of this Mariners team was its relentless determination to win in spite of those moments.

As for Servais’ chances of taking home the hardware, the Manager of the Year Award typically favors a skipper who leads a club that significantly exceeds expectations, which could play into Servais’ favor. The Mariners entered the season with a projected 2.9% chance to reach the postseason, yet they ended up finishing only two games back of the second AL Wild Card spot and were in contention until the final day of the regular season.

Servais signed a multiyear extension with Seattle in September, along with Dipoto, to ensure that this management staff will have the opportunity to see their rebuild through as the club looks to snap a postseason drought dating back to 2001.