While the official announcement may not come until next week, several reports are surfacing that former Indians manager Eric Wedge will be announced as the new skipper for the Seattle Mariners.
According to a report by The News Tribune, the other candidates for the position (Bobby Valentine and John Gibbons) have been notified by the Mariners organization that the opening has been filled and they will not be receiving the job.
Wedge was the manager in Cleveland from 2003-09, and saw his best season in 2007 when the Indians defeated the Yankees in the ALDS and were just one game away from preventing the Red Sox from heading to the World Series. He compiled a 561-573 record as manager of the Indians.
Toward the end of his managing tenure, Wedge was fiercely criticized when the team struggled to win with a top-notch roster that included such players as CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner.
Fans were also disappointed with his "quiet intensity" and expected more emotion and excitement from their manager. Wedge was fired in October of 2009.
According The News Tribune's report, the Mariners are waiting on approval from MLB commissioner Bud Selig to make the official announcement. Teams must receive permission before making major announcements during the playoffs.
Mariners former manager, Don Wakamatsu, was fired on Aug. 10. He was replaced on an interim basis by Triple-A manager Daren Brown.
