BALTIMORE, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Orioles on Friday named Lee Mazzilli their new manager.
He agreed to a two-year contract with two option years. It is the first major league managerial job for Mazzilli, who takes over for the fired Mike Hargrove, and becomes the first coach during the eight-year run of Yankees skipper Joe Torre to become a manager.
Mazzilli, 48, has managerial experience in the minor leagues, guiding teams at Double-A Norwich and Triple-A Tampa.
The Orioles went 275-372 in four years under Hargrove, who posted a 71-91 mark in 2003, the first year in the new front office regime of Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan.
Mazzilli and Flanagan were teammates with Toronto in 1989.
"Our intent has been to improve the team and make it a contender as soon as possible," Flanagan said. "Fans will see an exciting brand of Oriole baseball on the field this year under Lee."
Baltimore, which lacks pitching depth and offensive punch, has not reached the postseason since 1997.