Gillick steps down as Mariners GM

Pat Gillick gave his resignation as Mariners general manager today after four years running the club's baseball operations.

Gillick, 66, left his position only two days after the end of the 2003 season, in which the Mariners faded badly for a second straight year and missed the playoffs again.

During Gillick's four-year tenure, Seattle won 393 games, more than any other club in major-league baseball during that span.

Gillick will remain with the organization as general manager until a successor is found. After that, he will become an advisor with the club in a consulting role.

"After much thought I've decided to step away from my current role with the Mariners," Gillick said in a statement. "I've had four shots at the brass ring here and think maybe it's time for someone else to take a shot at taking this team to a higher level.

"I believe we have a core of players in place, especially pitchers, that will allow the Mariners to contend for the next several years, at least, and I am looking forward to remaining involved with the Seattle organization."

In a press release, Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said, "We wanted Pat to stay on board as our General Manager, but we respect his decision to step back and serve as a consultant.

"We will immediately begin a search for a successor that will include both internal and external candidates. We thank Pat for the exceptional job he has done the past four years, and the professionalism he has brought to the Mariners. Finally, we are pleased he will still be connected with our organization."

On Sept. 10, Gillick earned the 2,000th victory of his 24-year career as a major-league GM. He was GM for the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-1994), Baltimore Orioles (1996-98) and Mariners (2000-2003).

Gillick helped lead the club to two American League Championship Series appearances and was named executive of the year in 2001, the year the Mariners matched the record for wins in a season.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all of the people in the organization that I have worked with over the past four years,'' said Gillick, "especially Roger Jongewaard, Benny Looper and Lee Pelekoudas and all our scouts and staff."

Gillick has 29 years of experience as a major-league front-office executive. He spent the last four seasons in Seattle continuing a career that began in 1963 with Houston. He spent 10 years working his way up through the Astros front office. Gillick joined the New York Yankees in 1974 before moving to the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 16, 1976.

Gillick was responsible for all baseball-related activities for the expansion Blue Jays and helped guide them to five Eastern Division titles — 1985, 1989, 1991-93 — and World Championships in 1992-93.

He moved to Baltimore in 1996, and the Orioles reached the ALCS in his first two years as general manager, winning the American League East in 1997.