Two days into his first full week as the Seattle Mariners’ new general manager, Jack Zduriencik has fired the scouting director and hired two of his assistants from the Milwaukee Brewers.
But Zduriencik is hardly making a complete sweep of the Mariners’ front-office executives.
On the same day the Mariners announced that scouting director Bob Fontaine had been fired, they also said Tuesday that assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas and international operations director Bob Engle would remain in their positions.
Pelekoudas has worked 29 years for the Mariners and became interim GM after Bill Bavasi was fired in June. Engle, with the Mariners since 2000, has supervised the club’s international scouting.
Zduriencik has hired Tony Blengino, his assistant scouting director in Milwaukee, and Tom McNamara, the Brewers’ East Coast scouting crosschecker. Neither has been assigned a title with the Mariners, although the 45-year-old Blengino is expected to lead the scouting department.
Other executives, including player development director Greg Hunter and player personnel director Benny Looper, are among those who’ve met with Zduriencik as he assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the organization.
Zduriencik said it may take another three weeks before he completes his staff.
Already gone is Fontaine, who was told during a meeting Monday with Zduriencik that he would be fired.
“These things happen. I’ve enjoyed my time here tremendously,” Fontaine said Tuesday in a call with reporters who cover the Mariners. “I was brought here in a similar situation. I do understand. Did I expect it? You’re never expecting not to be a part of it. But I knew it was a possibility.”
Under Fontaine’s direction since he was hired in December, 2003, the Mariners drafted catcher Jeff Clement, and pitchers Brandon Morrow, Phillippe Aumont and Josh Fields with their first-round selections. Their first pick in 2004 was third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo in the third round.
“In the next five years, you’ll be able to close the book on my time here on how we did or didn’t do,” Fontaine said. “I’m biased, but I think we made a lot of accomplishments and a lot of strides.”
Clement and Morrow are considered important parts of the Mariners’ future and Aumont is regarded as one of baseball’s best young pitching prospects.
Fields remains unsigned, and Fontaine said Tuesday that talks had been in a stalemate until the Mariners’ front-office situation was settled.
“It’s always disappointing when your No. 1 pick is not under contract,” Fontaine said. “I’ve always been optimistic through this even though it is October. I think he’ll complement this team. But that’s up to the Mariners from this point on how they go about it.”
The Mariners have until a week before the 2009 June draft to sign Fields. If he isn’t signed, he’ll go back into the draft pool.
Fontaine said he has no hard feelings about being dismissed.
“Jack has a right to bring in someone he wants to build the staff the way he wants it,” he said. “Jack was up-front with me. I’m fine.
“I want to go to work as quickly as I can. This is my livelihood, my passion. I love what I do. It’s not just a job.”
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