Originally published June 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 16, 2008 at 9:21 PM

Mariners fire GM Bill Bavasi

The Mariners have fired general manager Bill Bavasi. Lee Pelekoudas will take over as interim GM.

Seattle Times staff reporter

TED S. WARREN / AP

Bill Bavasi was in his fifth season as the head of Mariners baseball operations after being named to that position on Nov. 7, 2003, when he took over for Pat Gillick.

The Mariners fired general manager Bill Bavasi today.

Lee Pelekoudas, the team's vice president/associate general manager, will take over as the interim GM.

"Change is in order," Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said in a written statement. "We have determined new leadership is needed in the GM position. With a new leader will come a new plan and a new approach. A search will begin immediately for a permanent GM, and Lee will be a candidate for the position."

The Mariners are 24-45 after being swept in three games by the Washington Nationals at Safeco Field.

Before the season, Bavasi traded five players for pitcher Erik Bedard, with an eye toward contending this season and next.

The likely scenario now is that a new GM will be brought in with his own three- to five-year plan to make things work. Lincoln describes "a new plan and a new approach" that would seem to negate sticking with the current plan.

Five seasons into the Bavasi plan, it's on to the next one.

As for manager John McLaren, he is staying in place. For now, at least.

Bavasi was in his fifth season as the head of Mariners baseball operations after being named to that position on Nov. 7, 2003, when he took over for Pat Gillick. Before joining the Mariners, Bavasi was director of player development of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And from 1994-1999 he was the general manager of the California/Anaheim Angels.

"Speaking on behalf of our ownership and the entire Mariners organization, we have enormous respect for Bill, and appreciate his service to the franchise," Lincoln said in the written statement.

Pelekoudas, now in his 29th season with the Mariners, was named vice president/associate GM on Nov. 1, 2005. He started with the Mariners as director of team travel in 1980, and moved into the area of baseball administration in October 1987. Pelekoudas was promoted to senior director of baseball administration in April 1995 and to VP of baseball administration in September 1997.

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