Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners have named Lloyd McClendon as their new manager, with the former Detroit Tigers hitting coach to be formally introduced at a press conference on Thursday.
McClendon, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2001-05 prior to an eight-year tenure under Jim Leyland in Detroit, beat out a pool of four other candidates for the vacancy. The Mariners also conducted interviews with Padres bench coach Rick Renteria, Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach, White Sox bench coach Joey Cora and Oakland bench coach Chip Hale.
Of those five candidates, McClendon was the only one with previous managerial experience at the major league level.
"Lloyd is a bright, articulate guy," said Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. "He is a tireless worker and very respected by the players with whom he has worked."
McClendon amassed a 336-446 record with the Pirates before being dismissed in September of 2005. He joined Leyland's staff with the Tigers the following season and was part of two American League pennant-winning teams in Detroit. The Tigers reached the AL Championship Series four times as well during that eight-year span.
The 54-year-old McClendon also spent eight years in the majors as a player, predominantly as a reserve outfielder and pinch hitter.
McClendon replaces Eric Wedge, who announced during the final week of last season that he would not return to the Mariners in 2014. Wedge missed 28 games of the 2013 campaign after suffering a stroke in late July.
Seattle went 212-271 in three seasons under Wedge and has not posted a winning mark since going 85-77 under Don Wakamatsu in 2009.
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