Seattle GM to Be Back in 2003

SEATTLE (AP) _ Pat Gillick will return as general manager of the Seattle Mariners in 2003, ending speculation that he planned to retire or move to another team. <br><br>The Mariners announced Wednesday

Wednesday, October 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) _ Pat Gillick will return as general manager of the Seattle Mariners in 2003, ending speculation that he planned to retire or move to another team.

The Mariners announced Wednesday that Gillick, 65, will remain with the team for at least one more season as executive vice president and general manager. His three-year contract was up at the end of the 2002 season.

``I'm really enjoying my time with the Mariners,'' Gillick said in a statement. ``Seattle has great fans, a committed ownership group and a terrific ballpark. When I came here, I said I wanted to take this team to the next level; that's still my goal.''

The Mariners took a step backward this season, finishing third in the AL West to miss the playoffs after making it to the AL championship series the past two seasons and tying the major league record with 116 victories last season.

But they did win 93 games, second-highest in franchise history, and led the majors in attendance for the second straight season at Safeco Field.

There was conjecture that Gillick and manager Lou Piniella were upset with the team's ownership for not expanding the team's budget of $90 million at the trading deadline in order to deal for a veteran hitter or starting pitcher.

Piniella, 59, has one more season left on his contract. He has said he intends to honor it.

Gillick has 28 years of experience as a major league executive. He was the Toronto Blue Jays' general manager in 1992 and 1993, when they won World Series titles. He also was general manager with the Baltimore Orioles in 1996 and 1997, when they reached the ALCS.

Gillick will have a busy winter in Seattle with decisions to be made on four free agents _ designated hitter Edgar Martinez and left-hander Jamie Moyer, who both will be 40 next season, first baseman John Olerud, 34, and catcher Dan Wilson, 33.

The Mariners have an option on Martinez's contract that would pay him $10 million next season.