Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren will have an almost completely new coaching staff in 2008.
The Mariners announced Friday night that third-base coach Carlos Garcia, pitching coach Rafael Chaves, bench coach Mike Goff and bullpen coach Jim Slaton will not return next season.
Additionally, first-base coach Gary Thurman will return to the Mariners’ minor-league staff. Thurman joined the major-league club in July after McLaren was named manager and Goff became his bench coach.
The only coach asked to return for next season was hitting coach Jeff Pentland.
“Mac, with our participation, has the latitude to assemble his own coaching staff and create a fresh start with his own guys,” general manager Bill Bavasi said in a statement. “This is never an easy process to go through and each of the men that will not return are great baseball people. We appreciate all their time and effort with the organization over the years.”
McLaren took over as Mariners manager on July 2 after Mike Hargrove suddenly resigned. McLaren went 43-41 the rest of the way and the Mariners finished 88-74.
Last week, the Mariners announced both McLaren and Bavasi would return for 2008.
“Having been in this situation several times myself, I know how difficult change can be,” McLaren said. “This is an opportunity for me to assemble a staff that I believe gives us the best chance to win in 2008.”
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