The Mariners on Friday promoted Exec VP/Finance & Ballpark Operations Kevin Mather to President & COO, replacing the retiring Chuck Armstrong, according to Ryan Divish of the SEATTLE TIMES. Mariners Chair & CEO Howard Lincoln said he selected Mather because his "experience in the game of baseball has prepared him well for this position." Lincoln interviewed Mather and team Exec VP/Business Operations Bob Aylward for the position, but he "settled on the 51-year-old Mather, who has been with the Mariners" since '96. Lincoln said Mather is "highly thought of" around MLB. Mather said, "Obviously we need to win more games. You take care of your fans, take care of the community, be a good community asset. But win more games and everything else happens a lot sooner. ... We think we’re really close." Mather: "The president’s role is to provide resources. Coordinate the business side and the baseball side and provide resources." Mather came to the Mariners from the Twins in '96, where he worked for 4 1/2 years. Meanwhile, Aylward, who was hired as the Mariners' VP/Business & Sales in '97, will assume Armstrong's duties as NW Sports Net Chair (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/25). In Seattle, Ellis Conklin wrote of the Mariners, "The struggling ballclub has decided on a team president whose passion is accounting and risk insurance" (SEATTLEWEEKLY.com, 1/24).
