SEATTLE, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Lou Piniella, who endured a fruitful but frustrating campaign in his 10th year as manager of the Seattle Mariners, has decided not to return to the team in 2003.
In a release issued by the club, the Mariners said Piniella based his decision on personal and family reasons. The Tampa native said the decision "had nothing to do with baseball."
Piniella, who guided the Mariners to a 93-69 mark in 2002, is under contract for next season, so if he decides to return to the dugout in 2003, the Mariners could demand compensation.
Piniella reportedly is a leading candidate for vacancies with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and New York Mets.
"In view of his long service to the Mariners and to accommodate Lou's desire to work closer to home, the Mariners will entertain contact from clubs interested in interviewing Lou for a field manager position," the release stated. "The Mariners will seek to negotiate reasonable compensation from such clubs."
Piniella guided the Mariners to an American League-record 116 wins in 2001 and was rewarded with AL Manager of the Year honors, but Seattle fell six games shy of the playoffs this season and Piniella reportedly was upset that the team did not make more midseason moves.
General Manager Pat Gillick also was rumored to be leaving but decided to stay. He now will have to conduct a managerial search for a veteran team in one of baseball's best markets.
Piniella guided the Mariners to three straight playoff appearances and four in the last eight years. Under his guidance, Seattle went 840-711 and reached the ALCS in 2000 and 2001.
Piniella, 58, has a career managerial mark of 1,319-1,135, and guided the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series title in 1990. Only Atlanta's Bobby Cox has been with his team longer than Piniella, and only Tony La Russa of St. Louis, Cox, and Joe Torre of the New York Yankees have more wins.
Teams have posted a winning record in 11 of his 15 full seasons as a manager, and he is the only skipper in Seattle history to have a winning record.
Piniella, who has three grown children, graduated from high school in Tampa and attended the University of Tampa.
