In a move that can't be too surprising considering their struggles with him at the helm of the front office, the Seattle Mariners announced on Friday that they have fired general manager Jack Zduriencik after seven years in that capacity with the organization:
Hired back in October of 2008 to replace Bill Bavasi, who had led the team in the wrong direction, Zduriencik's first season was somewhat of a success. Seattle finished the 2009 campaign with an 85-77 record.
However, it's been all downhill since. The Mariners have finished with 75 or fewer wins in four of the past five seasons. And after posting a winning clip last year, the team was 10 games under .500 at the time of Zduriencik's firing.
Given money to help build a contender and a pretty long rope, Zduriencik has failed at every turn. From doling out $240 million to Robinson Cano to trading Michael Pineda for a player in Jesus Montero that has been a downright bust, his allocation of assets have left a lot to be desired.
Seattle now joins a ton of franchises that will be looking for full-time a general manager when the winter comes calling.