Speculation Piniella to seek release grows

© St. Petersburg Times
published October 12, 2002

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Rays interviewed Lee Mazzilli for the manager's job and made changes on their support staff Friday amid the possibility of a significant development.

There is increased speculation that Seattle manager Lou Piniella will seek to be released from his contract, making him available -- and extremely attractive -- to the Rays.

The Mariners have said they want Piniella back and won't allow him to leave, but top team officials were believed to be in the Tampa Bay area Friday to meet with him.

Piniella, 59, is said to want to work closer to his home in Tampa, where his parents, children and grandchildren live, and might have made a personal plea. A decision is expected by early next week.

If the Mariners consider a request from Piniella, there still would be several issues to resolve, such as if they would require compensation (and how much it would be), and if they would allow him to work for -- and maybe only for -- the Rays.

If not, there also could be significant competition from the Mets, who reportedly are eyeing Piniella and San Francisco's Dusty Baker. And the Rays and Piniella would have to decide if the coupling was right, then work out a multiyear deal, probably at an annual salary close to the $2.5-million he would be giving up in Seattle.

Neither Seattle president Chuck Armstrong nor general manager Pat Gillick returned calls. The answering machine at Piniella's home was too full to take additional messages.

Mazzilli, the Yankees first-base coach, was the third candidate to interview for the job. He talked with GM Chuck LaMar for about six hours.

"It went great," Mazzilli said. "It was very constructive, lots of good ideas. I felt very comfortable with Chuck and Cam (Bonifay, player personnel director). They've got some good young players and some live arms. I think the best is yet to come."

LaMar has interviews scheduled next week with Yankees third-base coach Willie Randolph, Rays Triple-A manager Bill Evers and A's bench coach Ken Macha. He said he is arranging "several" more interviews, including some with candidates who have major-league managerial experience. The Rays announced other changes: Trainer Jamie Reed, the first on-field employee of the major-league staff, resigned to join the Rangers as medical director and head trainer. Reed will have increased responsibilities and will work with GM John Hart. The two broke in together in 1982 with an Orioles' minor-league team in Bluefield, W.Va.

"I wasn't really looking to leave," Reed said. "We love living here, and things were going fine. But this position presented itself, and they made me, as they say, an offer you can't refuse."

LaMar said Reed was "one of the outstanding trainers" and "really elevated our medical staff to what we think is one of the best."

Assistant trainer Ken Crenshaw was promoted to replace Reed, and Ron Porterfield, the minor-league medical and rehab coordinator, was named assistant trainer.

Chris Westmoreland, the minor-league equipment manager since 1997, was named equipment/home clubhouse manager

Jason Trott was fired after two seasons as strength and conditioning coordinator.

Rangers name Showalter manager

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Former Yankees and Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter agreed to a deal with the Rangers. Showalter went 562-505 in seven seasons. He was with the Yankees from 1992-95 and Diamondbacks from 1998-2000.

"Buck Showalter is a very impressive baseball guy," owner Tom Hicks said. Texas fired Jerry Narron two days after it finished last in the AL West for the third consecutive season.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.