Piniella will shop around

  • KIRBY ARNOLD / Herald Writer
  • Friday, October 27, 2000 9:00pm
  • Sports

By KIRBY ARNOLD

Herald Writer

Lou Piniella feels a strong commitment to Seattle and its baseball fans, and he’s flattered by the Seattle Mariners’ contract offer.

So what’s keeping Piniella from saying yes and continuing as the team’s manager?

“The Mariners made a very good offer. They were very gracious and generous and we’re considering that offer,” said Alan Nero, the Chicago-based agent for Piniella. “But we would like to at least be able to consider some of the potential openings that are available.”

Piniella, whose contract with the Mariners expired after the 2000 season, has managed the team since 1993 and taken the M’s to the postseason three of the last five seasons.

Mariners executives met with Piniella on Thursday near his home in Tampa and offered a package believed to be worth about $7 million over three years.

Piniella couldn’t be reached on Friday.

“Lou has a very strong commitment to Seattle,” Nero said. “The town has been very good to him, and the fans have been good to him. His heart is serious about considering staying, but he’d like to know if anybody else is interested.

Five other managerial jobs are open – Toronto, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Arizona and the Los Angeles Dodgers – and Bobby Valentine’s contract is up with the New York Mets.

Nero said he and Piniella have no interviews scheduled but they’re hoping to talk with other clubs and make a decision next week.

“We’re hoping by the middle of next week we can make a decision, but it’s up in the air at the moment,” Nero said.

Piniella is known to favor only the Mariners among the teams with vacancies on the West Coast.

Geographic location, as it relates to Piniella’s home on the East Coast, could be a factor in his decision, Nero said.

“It’s important, in regard to the fact that you have family and you’d like to be close to the family,” the agent said. “That really is one of the main issues.”

Money, however, might speak loudest.

At $2.3 million per year, Piniella would rank third among major league managers (behind the Yankees’ Joe Torre at $3 million and the Giants’ Dusty Baker at $2.65 million).

Piniella, who made $1.3 million per year in his last contract, also would like a deal long enough to allow him to win 1,500 games as a manager in his career. He’s currently at 1,110, and probably would need five years to hit 1,500.

Nero said Piniella felt no disrespect by the three-year deal offered by the Mariners. Instead, he was flattered.

“We’re not going to go ask them to bid against themselves,” Nero said. “It’s not the game we’re playing. They really made a full-court press and I think Lou was touched by the whole thing.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 12

Terrace, Monroe girls advance in district hoops tournament.

Kimberly Beard, a Mukilteo resident who attends King's High School, prepares to release a throw during the 20-pound weight competition at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Donna Beard)
Mukilteo’s Kimberly Beard wins throwing event

The King’s High School junior won the 20-pound weight throw at a George Fox indoor meet.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.