Mariners relieve Bill Bavasi of General Manager duties

Mariners relieve Bill Bavasi of General Manager duties
Vice President, associate general manager Lee Pelekoudas to take over as interim general manager

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners Chief Executive Officer Howard Lincoln today announced that Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Bill Bavasi had been relieved of his duties with the club.

Vice President/Associate General Manager Lee Pelekoudas will take over as the interim General Manager, effective immediately. He is the eighth General Manager in club history.

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

Pelekoudas, now in his 29th season with the Mariners, was named Vice President, Associate General Manager on November 1, 2005. He started with the Mariners as Director of Team Travel in 1980, and moved into the area of baseball administration in October of 1987. Lee was promoted to Sr. Director of Baseball Administration in April of 1995 and to VP of Baseball Administration in September, 1997.

Lincoln said, "Chuck and I have confidence in Lee Pelekoudas, who has been with the Mariners for many years and who is a respected baseball executive."

Pelekoudas has been responsible for the coordination of player contract negotiations, tracking Major League player movement, managing the club's player transactions within the MLB administrative rules and the Major League payroll. He has also been extensively involved in discussions and decisions on the make-up of the Major League roster.

Lee was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 23rd round of the 1969 June draft, but elected to attend Arizona State University, where he was a three-year letterwinning pitcher (1970-72). He graduated from ASU in 1973 with a degree in journalism. He worked in private business for four years prior to joining the PCL Portland Beavers in 1978.