According to a CBSsports.com report, the Mariners have interviewed former major league catcher and one-time Seattle farmhand Jason Varitek for their vacant managerial opening. Varitek has worked as a special assistant to the general manager of the Boston Red Sox since late 2012.
According to the report, Varitek, who has no managerial experience, is not eager to leave the Boston area due to family considerations.
Varitek played 15 seasons for the Red Sox from 1997-2011 and made American League All-Star teams in 2003, 2005 and 2008. He also won a Gold Glove in 2005. Varitek had a .256 career batting average and hit 193 career home runs.
The Mariners selected Varitek in the first round (14th overall pick) of the 1994 June draft. He played in their minor league system until midway through the 1997 season when the club packaged him and RHP Derek Lowe and traded them to Boston for reliever Heathcliffe Slocumb.
The deal was one of the worst the Mariners made. Lowe won 176 games in a 17-year major league career and made two All-Star teams. Slocumb pitched parts of two years (1997-98), going 2-9 with a 4.97 ERA.
Tim Bogar, a special assistant with the Dodgers, is considered the favorite to replace Lloyd McClendon, but Alex Cora and Rays third base coach Charlie Montoyo are among the other candidates.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2210473 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2210473">4 Comments
Lou Pinella had issues with Seattle being so far from his home in Tampa but the M’s offered to cover the travel costs and other issues until he had no real reason to sat no. Varitek is no Pinella but the trend lately in managers seems to be former players with no previous managerial experience. Be cool to see A-Rod’s former minor league teammate and sparring partner come here. Really, the club has some solid pieces in place. They’re a lot closer to being a contender than most other teams so there has to be an attraction to coming here.
I’d like to see them interview Ron Washington. He got Texas in consecutive World Series, and seems to be respected by many basebal people as well as the players.
Agreed. I’d like to add Willie Randolph to that list. I don’t think he got a fair chance with the Mets. But then, who does?
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