In their first offseason under new general manager Jerry Dipoto, the Seattle Mariners will have plenty on their to-do list.
The first priority will be determining if Lloyd McClendon should remain manager of the team. A decision on the skipper's future may not be made until next week, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports, citing baseball sources.
Divish adds that McClendon is expected to meet with Dipoto and others in the organization this week to review the season and the team's roster.
"We’ll continue to talk," McClendon told Divish. "I think our talks have been very productive and very good."
Although McClendon earned Manager of the Year votes for his work in 2014, the team vastly underachieved this year. Despite Seattle's 76-86 record, McClendon defended the effort both he and his players gave throughout the season.
"I look in the mirror every night and know that I gave it everything I had every day," McClendon said. "My players gave me everything they had every day. Some nights it was good enough. Some nights it wasn’t very good. The effort was always there. Obviously we have to shore some things up from a talent standpoint."
Here are a few other rumors making their way around the league today:
Hisashi Iwakuma: Further down in his piece, Divish notes that retaining Iwakuma is another priority for Dipoto and the Mariners. "I know Kuma wants to be here," Dipoto said. "We’d certainly like him to be here. Now it’s a matter of sitting down and finding out if there’s a common place we meet. It seems a good marriage." Iwakuma is seeking a three-year deal, sources tell Divish, and will likely be looking to make more than $10 million a season. The 34-year-old right-hander has spent his entire four-year career in the MLB with Seattle, posting a 47-25 record with a 3.17 ERA.
Miami Marlins: The Marlins have received permission to interview Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A manager Phil Nevin for their managerial opening, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. According to Nightengale, D-backs general manager Dave Stewart not only granted permission but offered a "strong endorsement" for the 44-year-old. Nevin managed the Reno Aces to a 70-74 record this season. He joins Larry Bowa, Manny Acta and Bo Porter as known candidates for the job.
Ivan Nova: The New York Yankees intend to tender a contract to Nova for the 2016 season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Nova is eligible for his final year of arbitration this offseason, meaning he will receive a raise from his $3.3 million salary last year if the Yankees tender him a deal. Having missed most of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Nova was a huge disappointment this season, posting a 5.07 ERA in 17 starts. According to Sherman, the Yankees believe the 28-year-old will be better the further removed he is from his surgery.
Ben Zobrist: Could Zobrist have been a Yankee? That appears to be the case, as GM Brian Cashman told reporters, including Chad Jennings of the Journal News, that he turned down an offer of Adam Warren and Rob Refsnyder for Zobrist at the trade deadline. Zobrist was eventually traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Kansas City Royals. Although Zobrist has flourished in Kansas City, New York was likely wise not to make the deal. Refsnyder hit .302 in his short time in the majors, while Warren proved he's capable of holding down a starting spot after posting a 3.66 ERA in that role this season (17 starts).