UPDATE: The Mariners have made it official.
#Mariners name Jerry Dipoto new General Manager. Press conference tomorrow at 10 a.m. More: https://t.co/PYGi9exec9 pic.twitter.com/yna8ZvwKc2
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 28, 2015
"The Mariners confirmed the news this afternoon," writes Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. "There will be a press conference on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Safeco Field to introduce Dipoto."
Mariners make it official. Former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto is new GM. Press conference tomorrow at 10 a.m. to introduce him.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) September 28, 2015
It's official. Mariners hire Jerry Dipoto, press conference will be tomorrow.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) September 28, 2015
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The Seattle Mariners have apparently decided upon a new general manager after firing Jack Zduriencik last month, which will put the rumors to rest.
Earlier today Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reported that the Mariners could announce their new general manager as soon as Monday. Shortly thereafter, ESPN Insider Jim Bowden reported Jerry Dipoto is expected to be the team's next GM.
The news has been confirmed by a number of others.
The #Mariners are expected to offer their GM job to Jerry Dipoto, per @JimBowden_ESPN
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 28, 2015
There will likely be an official announcement on the Mariners GM signing this afternoon. ESPN's Jim Bowden reporting it's Jerry DiPoto
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) September 28, 2015
The Mariners are expected to offer Jerry DiPoto the GM job, according to @JimBowden_ESPN. Story via @ChrisRSchubert: https://t.co/3866KzIk0E
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 28, 2015
"The Mariners' search for a new general manager appears to be over and the announcement could come as soon as Monday," Drayer wrote earlier today.
"Two known final candidates, former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto and Yankees assistant GM Billy Eppler, had final interviews late last week. Dipoto, who is currently a consultant with the Red Sox, met with the Mariners on Friday. It is not clear whether or not there were other candidates involved in the final interview process."
"The Seattle Mariners will offer their vacant general manager position to Jerry DiPoto, a source told ESPN MLB Insider Jim Bowden on Monday," ESPN added.
This will be the second time Dipoto has beaten out Eppler. The two were finalists for the Angels' GM job back in 2011 and Los Angeles chose Dipoto over Eppler. However, Dipoto resigned from that post earlier this season and now it appears Eppler is the frontrunner to succeed him.
The Mariners put assistant GM Jeff Kingston in charge on an interim basis and he was a candidate to keep the job beyond this season, but team president Kevin Mather previously expressed he was in search of an experienced candidate.
Dipoto's first decision will likely be to determine the fate of manager Lloyd McClendon, who has been rumored to be on the hot seat ever since Zduriencik was fired.
