According to a report by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Los Angeles Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais has emerged as the “strong front runner” to replace Lloyd McClendon as manager of the Seattle Mariners. Servais, who has no managing experience, played in the major leagues from 1991-2001 with six teams and has worked in front offices ever since.
Servais served under new GM Jerry Dipoto in LA until Dipoto resigned last July. Prior to that, Servais worked as the player development director for the Texas Rangers. Dipoto and Servais were Colorado Rockies teammates during the 2000 season. The Angels interviewed Servais as a potential replacement for Dipoto, but ultimately hired Billy Eppler for the job.
A native of Coon Valley, WI., Servais played at Creighton University. He was selected in the third round of the 1988 amateur draft by the Houston Astros.
Servais spent 1991-95 with the Astros, and then played for the Chicago Cubs (1995-98), San Francisco Giants (1999), Colorado Rockies (2000) and Astros (2001). Servais appeared in 820 major league games, primarily as a catcher, batting .245 with 63 career home runs.
Tim Bogar has been considered the favorite to replace McClendon. However, Alex Cora, Phil Nevin and Charlie Montoyo have all been connected to the job. Earlier this week, the Mariners interviewed former catcher Jason Varitek, a one-time Seattle farmhand who spent 18 seasons with the Red Sox.