Mariners' offseason plans: New GM, then a myriad of changes

By Gregg Bell | The Associated Press • Published October 03, 2008

• Comments (0)

SEATTLE – Ask Ichiro Suzuki what his sunken Mariners must do this offseason, and the superstar outfielder just keeps cooling himself at his locker with a white, paper-thin fan with red roses on it.

"In this setting, we don't have time to explain all this team needs to do," Suzuki says through interpreter Ken Barron.

That was immediately after Seattle's season finally, mercifully skidded to a halt last weekend. Expectations of a first playoff appearance since 2001 instead became an AL-worst 61-101 season, leaving behind a mess the Mariners will need every day of their offseason to clean up.

The first team to lose 100 games with a $100 million payroll may lose more this winter. On top of all else the AL's worst team must do, it should install a revolving door for a possible exodus of veterans.

• RBI leader Raul Ibanez says he loves Seattle. But more than that he wants to win, and he is likely to leave in free agency to get that chance.

• Starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn says he, too, has zero interest in being part of a rebuilding team. Then again, the Mariners may have zero interest in a guy who is 23-43 in three seasons for them.

• The team president admits the Mariners may not even tender a contract to failed "ace" Erik Bedard, who is coming off shoulder surgery. He made $7 million in 2008 while winning only six games and not pitching after July 4. He is eligible for arbitration and could be a free agent after the '09 season.

• Manager Jim Riggleman knows he's gone because a new general manager will bring his or her own man in to run the dugout.

None of this will be decided until the new GM arrives. That's why Mariners president Chuck Armstrong was on the phone with commissioner Bud Selig this week informing him of the team's plan: a new general manager by the end of October to replace Bill Bavasi, who was fired in June, and his stand-in, Lee Pelekoudas.

Seattle already is calling other teams for permission to interview candidates.

One of the Mariners' pipe dreams, Brian Cashman of the Yankees, just agreed to return to New York. It looks increasingly like Seattle will have to settle for giving a rising assistant his — or in the case Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, her — first chance at the job.