SEATTLE — Eric Wedge is returning to baseball after a year away to face the challenge of another rebuilding project.
This time, it’s with the Mariners.
Wedge was officially announced Monday as the Mariners’ seventh manager since 2003. His challenge is rebuilding a franchise a decade removed from its last playoff appearance and coming off a second 101- loss season in the past three years.
“Eric brings the energy, passion and leadership that we think is important as we move forward, and he has a track record of winning at the major-league and minor-league levels,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said.
Wedge, 42, has gone down the road of rebuilding a struggling franchise. He was asked to do it twice during his seven seasons as manager in Cleveland, where in 2007 he took the Indians to within one victory of the World Series.
But his inability to win the second time the Indians tried an overhaul eventually cost Wedge his job.
After a year out of baseball, Wedge is ready to jump back in.
“I think this is a terrific opportunity, and I am excited to be a part of it,” Wedge said. “Seattle is a great city for me and my family. With the fan support, the ballpark, the ownership and management, the Mariners are in a great position to be very successful.”
La Russa returning to Cardinals
ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa ended the usual postseason suspense, agreeing to a 16th season as Cardinals manager. The team announced a deal that included a mutual option for the 2012 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.
La Russa, 66, has a franchise-record 1,318 wins since joining the team as manager in 1996 and is third on the major-league career victory list, needing 126 wins to pass John McGraw for second place. He has managed 4,935 games, second on the list.
Footnotes.
The first two games of the NLCS averaged a 4.7 rating and 8 share on Fox, up 27 percent from the first two games of last year’s NLCS between Philadelphia and the Dodgers, which averaged a 3. 7/7 on TBS.
• The Royals are accepting trade offers for 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.
Denver Post wire services
