Mariners tap Wedge as new manager

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Eric Wedge takes over a Mariners team that lost more games than all but three Seattle clubs in the franchise's 44-year history.

AP

The Seattle Mariners have settled on Eric Wedge to be their new manager, SI.com has learned.

Wedge, 42, previously managed the Cleveland Indians for seven seasons, 2003-2009, leading them to the American League Central title in 2007. Wedge compiled an overall record of 561-573 in Cleveland.

The Mariners are expected to make the announcement of wedge on Monday.

Other candidates for the job had included former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and interim manager Daren Brown, who took over the team when Don Wakamatsu was fired at midseason.

The Mariners were a trendy pick to reach the postseason but struggled from the start and finished 61-101, the worst record in the American League and the second-worst in all of baseball.