Bill Bavasi bounced as Mariners GM

General manager Bill Bavasi was fired Monday by the Seattle Mariners, the worst record in baseball.

Bavasi, 50, was replaced on an interim basis by associate GM Lee Pelekoudas.

"Change is in order," Mariners chief executive officer Howard Lincoln said. "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."

Bavasi succeeded Pat Gillick as Mariners GM on Nov. 7, 2003, but it wasn't until last season that Seattle scaled the .500 mark at 88-74.

Despite the presence of Ichiro Suzuki in the lineup and keynote signings like Eric Bedard, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Silva and Richie Sexson, the Mariners occupy the major-league basement with a 24-45 record this season — Bavasi's fifth as GM.

"I see people that are underperforming for no good reason," Bavasi said. "I don't have a good reason for that.

"They should be able to perform better and I think they have to take it upon themselves.

"I don't think they can look to a manager, to a coach, to lead them out of this. Their ultimate rescue is going to be themselves."

"We have just got to win," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "It is kind of mind-boggling what we have gone through, and I have had a lot of nights staying up late trying to figure things out.

"We have talent, we play hard. But for some reason, that is not getting it done."

Bavasi broke into the major leagues with the San Diego Padres, working in operations and with the grounds crew from 1974-78.

He later toiled for the California Angels from 1980-99, serving as GM in his final six seasons, before spending two seasons as director of player development with the Los Angeles Dodgers.