M's denied permission to talk with Beane

[MrRant 0]

The Mariners have been denied permission by the Oakland Athletics to interview their general manager, Billy Beane, for the same position in Seattle.

 

According to Saturday's Seattle Times, the Mariners could switch to another Oakland target, Paul DePodesta, Beane's assistant GM, in their search to fill the vacant position. Because DePodesta's contract with Oakland expires Oct. 31, permission soon will not be required, but according to the Times the A's reportedly want him to attend the GM's meetings in early November.

 

The Mariners also might seek permission after the World Series from the Yankees to talk with Mark Newman, New York's director of player development, and/or Gordon Blakeley, New York's VP for baseball operations, the newspaper reports.

 

Seattle's also thought to be interested in Dan Jennings, the Marlins' director of player personnel and, like Blakeley, a former Seattle scout. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has reported that the Mariners will seek permission to talk to him after the World Series.

 

Beane has also reportedly been linked to the GM job in Los Angeles, a position that may open up under new owner Frank McCourt. That would allow Beane to be closer to his daughter, Casey, who lives in Southern California with her mother.

 

In his tenure with the A's, Beane has had tremendous success getting Oakland to the postseason. However, the A's have failed to reach the second round of the playoffs every time, including a tough-to-swallow five-game loss to the Red Sox in this year's ALDS.

 

Last year the Red Sox asked to speak to Beane, and the A's eventually granted permission. Beane was offered the job and accepted it before changing his mind and deciding to remain in Oakland.

 

According to the Post-Intelligencer, the Mariners have already talked with Tigers assistant Al Avila, Montreal GM Omar Minaya and Boston executive Mike Port in addition to in-house candidates Benny Looper and Lee Pelekoudas.