Mariners extend GM Zduriencik

Aug 26, 2014 - 11:38 PM Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - In the midst of their best season since 2007, the Seattle Mariners have awarded general manager Jack Zduriencik with a multi-year contract extension.

The team made the announcement as it stands in position to claim the second Wild Card spot in the American League, with the Mariners entering Tuesday's play a half-game in front of Detroit in the race with a 71-59 record. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Seattle has not reached the postseason since it won a club-record 116 games and captured the AL West in 2001.

Zduriencik has certainly played a part in the rebuild, landing standout second baseman Robinson Cano and All-Star closer Fernando Rodney in free agency during the offseason. He also had a hand in drafting two other cornerstone players in third baseman Kyle Seager and catcher Mike Zunino, while the acquisitions of current 12-game winners Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young have come under his watch as well.

"Since Jack took over after the 2008 season, we have been building toward our ultimate goal, which is to win the World Series. We believe, with the efforts of Jack and his staff, we are now well-positioned as an organization to be a contender for many years to come," said Mariners president and COO Kevin Mather.

Zduriencik, who served as the Milwaukee Brewers' assistant GM prior to being hired in Seattle, guided the franchise to an 85-77 record in his first year at the helm in 2009. The Mariners then posted four consecutive losing seasons, however, before this year's turnaround.