SEATTLE, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- General Manager Pat Gillick and the Seattle Mariners parted ways on Tuesday after four years.
Gillick, 66, helped build the Mariners into perennial playoff contenders, but twice fell one game shy of reaching the World Series. The Mariners advanced to the AL Championship Series in his first two seasons with the club, losing each time to the New York Yankees.
Gillick, who also has been GM for Toronto and Baltimore, was on the job during the losses of two of the franchise's marquee players, centerfield Ken Griffey Jr. via trade in 2000 and shortstop Alex Rodriguez through free agency in 2001.
During his tenure, the Mariners set an AL record for most wins in 2001 with 116 victories, and Gillick was named Executive of the Year by The Sporting News and Baseball America.
He generated fan anger for not making a major player trade by the trading deadline in either of the past two seasons.
