Mariners fire Lloyd McClendon after 2 seasons
SEATTLE (AP) — Given the opportunity that he didn't get in his previous stop as a general manager, Jerry Dipoto decided the best move for the Seattle Mariners was to bring in his own field boss from the start.
Rather than try to force a relationship in Seattle, Dipoto will now be able to bring in someone he wants to work with, although he said the situation with the Angels didn't play heavily into his decision with McClendon.
The Mariners said hitting coach Edgar Martinez and infield coach Chris Woodward have been invited to remain with the Mariners staff and Dipoto was hopeful both would accept.
"Listening to him break down hitting and how clearly invested he was in making the players better, really excited," Dipoto said.
Seattle was McClendon's second chance as a manager and he raised hopes of a turnaround after the Mariners went 87-75 in his first season and missed the playoffs by one game.
Dipoto's decision means Seattle will have its 10th manager — full-time and interim — since the club's last playoff appearance in 2001.
Seattle's bullpen regressed significantly, the offense slogged through the first half of the season led by the struggles of Cano, and the Mariners could never recover from a 2-9 homestand in late May and early June.