There was much promise regarding the Seattle Mariners’s 2015 season, with many holding the team as World Series contenders. However, the Mariners started off slow and never gained traction, resulting in a disappointing 59-69 record with 34 games left in the season, 3rd worst in the American League. Mariners President and COO Kevin Mather announced this morning that seven-year tenured General Manager Jack Zduriencik was relieved of his duties, effective immediately.
#Mariners fire GM Jack Zduriencik.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) August 28, 2015
Responsibilities for the rest of the 2015 season are given to Jeff Kingston, who had served as the Mariners Assistant General Manager since 2009. Mather released a statement this morning regarding the news:
“We have reached the point when change of leadership of our baseball operations is needed for the Seattle Mariners to reach our goal of winning championships. We are very disappointed with the results this season, and are not satisfied with the current operation. The search for a permanent general manager will begin immediately, and while there is no deadline, we expect to have a new GM in place as soon as practical. We have great respect for Jack and his work ethic. He was an excellent representative of the Mariners both within the game of baseball and in the community. On behalf of the entire organization, I wish him and (his wife) Debbie all the best, and thank him for all his efforts.”
Zduriencik was hired in 2008 by Seattle after spending the last decade with the Milwaukee Brewers, most importantly as their Director of Scouting from 1999-2006, where he had great success drafting the likes of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. He received the 2007 Major League Executive of the Year award from Baseball America, the only non-GM to receive the award.
However, the teams he was responsible for in Seattle were lackluster, only achieving two winning seasons and zero postseason berths.
#Mariners fire GM Jack Zduriencik. Team had fifth-worst record (505-595) in #MLB during his tenure with team, Oct. 2008 to present.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 28, 2015
Zduriencik was given a multi-year contract extension last August after Seattle was one game away from making the 2014 AL Wild Card Game. The Mariners came into this season with many experts predicting a Word Series appearance, and rightfully so. They acquired 2014 AL home run champion Nelson Cruz to go along with sluggers Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager. They also have a true ace in Felix Hernandez, a crafty veteran in Hisashi Iwakuma, and young talents Taijuan Walker and James Paxton in the rotation.
Cruz has had a career year, giving him a chance at the AL MVP, and Iwakuma tossed a no-hitter on August 12, becoming only the 2nd Japanese-born player and 5th Mariner to do so. However, the other faults of the club all season have been too much to overcome for Zduriencik, and it cost him his job.
The biggest reason for Zduriencik’s lack of success running the Seattle ball club was the reason why he was successful in Milwaukee: scouting. His first draft pick at the Mariner helm was Dustin Ackley, who was selected 2nd overall in 2009. Ackley never came into his own in Seattle and was traded to the Yankees this season at the Trade Deadline. Another pick was Danny Hultzen, the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 Draft. He appeared on the 2012 Futures Team and seemed poised for success, but shoulder injuries have derailed him and he hasn’t made his MLB debut.
Seattle Mariners’s fans have been pining on bringing back the glory days of the 90s and early 2000s, where the franchise produced winning baseball year-in and year-out. But Jack Zduriencik’s tenure as general manager was not what this franchise, with a great history and high expectations, was hoping to endure.
