Mariners Begin Search For New President

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

First there was the search for the new manager. Then there was the search for the coaching staff and the ongoing search for new players.

Now, with the announcement that current president and chief operating officer Chuck Armstrong will retire next month, there is another search to conduct.

According to a report in the Seattle Times article, the search has begun and there are some names already coming out as potential replacements.

Let’s meet them.

Pat Gillick

The former Seattle GM and current special assistant to the Philadelphia Phillies, has connections to the Mariners organization and still lives in Magnolia (a Seattle neighborhood).

Gillick was the Mariners GM from 2000-2003, executed the trade of Ken Griffey Jr. to the Cincinnati Reds and was a part of the 116-win season in 2001.

The Mariners have not been to the postseason since his departure.

Larry Beinfest

Beinfest was recently fired as the president of baseball operations for the Miami Marlins.

In 1989, his first job in baseball was as a Player Development and Scouting Assistant in the Mariners minor league operations.

He worked his way up through the ranks to Assistant to the Vice President of Baseball Operations in 1998 before leaving to join the Montreal Expos as its Assistant General Manager.

Tony LaRussa

As a player, LaRussa failed to impress, but as a manager, his is the stuff of legends.

Three World Championships, three Manager of the Year awards and ranks third all-time in wins (2,728).

He has expressed an interest in moving into a front office position. Not sure how serious the Mariners would be about making theirs his first.

Kevin Mather

One of several possible internal candidates, but according to the Seattle Times report, Mather – the current vice president of ballpark and finance operations – is thought of highly within the organization.

Which of the four would you rather see take the reins? Is there another option you would rather have?

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