Seattle Mariners Rumors: Lloyd McClendon To Be Fired By New GM


Seattle Mariners rumors about Lloyd McClendon getting fired may soon come true. The latest Seattle Mariners rumors come from baseball analyst Jon Heyman on Friday, October 9. In a report for CBS Sports, “people familiar with the situation” in Seattle state that McClendon will be replaced as the manager of the team.

The team hired Jerry Dipoto to take over as the general manager once Jack Zduriencik was shown the door. The typical move in situations like this one is for the new GM to hire a manager who is ready to lead the team in a new direction. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that McClendon would be leaving right after Zduriencik, but the team hasn’t cut him loose just yet.

Heyman states that the main reason for this is that McClendon has an excellent relationship with the Mariners’ big stars, complicating the entire situation. Since he was able to lure Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz into signing long-term contracts, it could be a difficult conversation to have with the players. After another season of missing the MLB Playoffs, though, the team might need new leadership.

Seattle Mariners rumors at the beginning of the 2015 MLB season revolved around how many games the team would finish ahead of the rest of the American League West. Not only was a division title getting talked about, but many baseball experts stated that the team had enough talent to make it all the way to the World Series. That has made a 76-86 finish even tougher for fans to accept.

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners

Following the hiring of Jerry Dipoto, Mariners President Kevin Mather released a statement talking about the new general manager. It is safe to say that there are even more expectations being placed on Dipoto than Zduriencik had to deal with.

“Jerry impressed us at each step of the process.He has a very unique skill set, having been a successful player in the majors (he was 27-24 pitching in eight seasons with the Indians, Mets and Rockies), then moving into front offices with steadily increasing responsibilities. Jerry has scouted, spent time in player development and has a track record as a very successful general manager.”

During his time as manager of the Seattle Mariners, Lloyd McClendon has an overall record of 163-161. It’s one of the better records that a Mariners manager has posted in the history of the franchise, but after finishing 87-75 in the 2014 MLB season, the team took a big step in the wrong direction. This is leading to not just changes in the front office, but also with the coaching staff and the roster. Quite a few players were traded away in the second half of the season, and more moves are expected in the offseason.

There is also a new primary candidate for who might take over the job as the Mariners’ manager. Tim Bogar appears to be ready to take over the role, as he is someone who worked with Dipoto on the Los Angeles Angels. Other names that have been mentioned include Joe McEwing, Alex Cora, and Bud Black, but it seems that Bogar could have the edge due to his close relationship with Dipoto. Bogar is considered a “new school” guy that is solid and tough.

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners

Baseball analyst Jon Heyman typically gets stories like these correct when he reports on them. A primary sportswriter for CBS Sports and a baseball insider for MLB Network, it certainly appears as though there are only days left in the tenure of Lloyd McClendon with the team. There are likely to be many more Seattle Mariners rumors about the situation in the near future, including who might take McClendon’s place if new general manager Jerry Dipoto pulls the trigger on officially firing him.

[Image Sources: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Image]

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