According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Mariners hired Ted Simmons as a senior adviser to general manager Jack Zduriencik.
Simmons, 61, was the Padres bench coach for the past two seasons and held the same job with the Brewers in 2008. Zduriencik considered first Simmons for manager, but according to Heyman, the club hired Eric Wedge because they wanted someone with previous managerial experience.
Here’s what Zduriencik had to say about the hiring of Simmons, according to Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune.
“I am excited to add Ted to our front office group,” Zduriencik said. “His experience as an All-Star player, front office executive, scout and big league coach will be very valuable to us as a sounding board and advisor.”
Simmons may not have been the right fit for a managerial gig in Seattle, but with stops in the front offices of the Cardinals, Indians, Pirates and Padres, he has a wider range of experience than just about anyone in the game.