Angels assistant GM Scott Servais is leading candidate to manage Mariners

Scott Servais, who has spent the past four seasons as an Angels assistant general manager in charge of scouting and player development, has emerged as a leading candidate to manage the Seattle Mariners.

Fox Sports reported Thursday that Servais is a “strong front-runner” for the position. The Tacoma News-Tribune reported Tuesday that Servais is “gaining traction” as a managerial candidate.

Among the other finalists for the position are Tim Bogar, a special assistant to the Angels general manager, former catcher Jason Varitek, Arizona triple-A manager Phil Nevin and Tampa Bay coach Charlie Montoyo.

That Servais and Bogar are candidates in Seattle is not that surprising. Both were hired in Anaheim by Jerry Dipoto, who resigned as Angels general manager amid renewed friction with Manager Mike Scioscia on July 1 and was named Mariners GM in early October. Among Dipoto’s first moves in Seattle was to fire Manager Lloyd McClendon.

Servais, who has butted heads with Scioscia in the past, is not expected to remain in Anaheim under new GM Billy Eppler. The Angels could also lose another assistant GM in Matt Klentak, who has interviewed for the vacant GM position in Philadelphia.

Servais, 48, spent six seasons (2006-2011) as the Texas Rangers’ senior director of player development, overseeing the club’s minor league system and providing recommendations for potential trades and free-agent signings. A former catcher, he played 10 years (1991-2000) in the big leagues.

Bogar, 49, managed the Angels’ double-A team at Arkansas in 2013 before moving to the Rangers to become their bench coach in 2014. He became Texas’ interim manager after Ron Washington resigned and guided the Rangers to a 14-8 record in September of 2014.

Bogar returned to the Angels in 2015. A former shortstop, Bogar played nine years (1993-2001) in the big leagues.