Piniella not interested in managing Mariners
The Seattle Mariners recently contacted Lou Piniella, but the 70-year-old told the team he's not interested in coming out of retirement to manage the franchise for a second time.
"No," Piniella told FOX Sports on Thursday night. "I'm happy doing what I'm doing, which is watching a little baseball, doing a little bit of television for the Yankees, 15 games or so a year. It keeps me involved a bit."
Eric Wedge told the Mariners last month that he wasn't interested in returning after the team failed to make a committment to him beyond 2013. With general manager Jack Zduriencik only under contract through next year, there is a great deal of uncertainty with the franchise.
Piniella was the Mariners' manager from 1993 until 2002, leading the team to all four of its postseason appearances, including a 116-win regular season in 2001. The Mariners traded Piniella to Tampa Bay in 2002 so he could be closer to his ailing father.
"I talked to them about the job, but that's it," Piniella told FOX. "There was nothing else to it. It was just conversation, nothing more.
"I don't really want to manage anymore."
Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Bryan Price and former Chicago White Sox bench coach Joey Cora are among the names the Mariners are reportedly interested in. Price served as the Mariners' pitching coach under Piniella, and Cora spent part of his playing career in Seattle.
According to CBSSports.com, other candidates the Mariners are considering include San Francisco Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, Oakland Athletics bench coach Chip Hale and Philadelphia Phillies third-base coach Pete Mackanin.
