Seattle Mariners name Scott Servais as manager

The Seattle Mariners named Scott Servais, an assistant general manager with the Los Angles Angels and former major league catcher, as their new manager on Friday.

Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners' executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations, made the announcement after multiple media outlets reported Friday morning that Servais would become the 17th full-time skipper in team history.

A news conference is scheduled for Monday at Safeco Field to introduce Servais.

The Mariners were seeking a replacement for Lloyd McClendon, who was let go by Dipoto after the 2015 season. Dipoto was hired by the Mariners in late September after stepping down as Angels general manager earlier this year.

Servais, 48, and Dipoto shared a working relationship in Los Angeles, where Servais oversaw scouting and player development. Servais and Dipoto also were teammates for the first five months of the 2000 season when Dipoto was a reliever for the Colorado Rockies. Servais was a pro scout for the Rockies in 2005 when Dipoto was their director of player development.

"Through the course of the 20-plus years I've known Scott, I've come to see him as one of the most complete, well balanced and inclusive baseball people in the industry," Dipoto said in a statement. "I've been fortunate enough to call him a teammate as a player, while also having worked closely with him as an organizational leader in both Colorado and Los Angeles. He is a communicator with strong baseball acumen and leadership skills. I truly believe his strong character and career experiences as a player, coach and executive have prepared him for this opportunity."

Servais doesn't have any experience as a manager, but he recently interviewed for the vacant San Diego Padres managerial position. He was a catcher in the majors from 1991-2001.

Servais spent the past four seasons as the Angels' assistant general manager. In that role, he worked closely with Dipoto on all aspects of baseball operations, with a focus on player development.

"I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to manage the Seattle Mariners," Servais said. "It has long been my goal to manage a big league team and while I took a slightly different path than many, I am confident in my ability to lead. We have a terrific core of players and I'm looking forward to bringing in a coaching staff that will help me establish a winning culture here as we work toward putting a championship-caliber team on the field for the fans of the Northwest."

Prior to joining the Angels, Servais spent the previous six seasons (2006-2011) as the Texas Rangers' senior director of player development. With the Rangers, he was responsible for the on-field development of all players in the Rangers' minor league system. He also was responsible for instructing Texas' major league catchers. Servais spent two years as a roving catching instructor for the Chicago Cubs (2003-04).

Servais had an 11-year major league playing career with the Houston Astros (1991-95, 2001), Cubs (1995-98), San Francisco Giants (1999-2000) and Rockies (2000). He batted .245 with 63 home runs and 319 RBIs in 820 career games. He ranked among the top-three National League catchers in fielding percentage in three separate seasons.

Servais, Boston Red Sox special assistant Jason Varitek and minor league manager Phil Nevin were among the finalists for the Seattle job, according to reports.