Eric Wedge sat simmering in a Safeco Field conference room as the Mariners manager’s bosses laid into him. It was 14 months ago, two days after the 2012 season, and Mariners president Chuck Armstrong unleashed what Wedge calls “a ferocious, venom-filled tirade” about the team, coaches and players.

SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik defended his involvement in the daily operation of the ballclub on Monday after pointed remarks by former manager Eric Wedge and other past front-office employees in the Seattle Times. Zduriencik issued the statement a day after a lengthy Times article that highlighted issues with the Mariners’ front office. Wedge was quoted in the story saying Zduriencik, team president Chuck Armstrong and CEO Howard Lincoln had meddled in the club’s operation.

Free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano and the Mariners have reached agreement on a deal, a person familiar with the deal told the AP on Friday. ESPN reported the contract was worth $240 million for 10 years. The person told the AP the deal was pending a physical that had not yet been scheduled. Cano, who the Yankees had offered $175 million over seven years, had spent his entire career in New York and was a five-time All-Star.

SEATTLE – The Mariners’ courtship of Robinson Cano continued on Thursday in a more intimate setting. Sources confirmed that the free-agent second baseman flew to Seattle, along with his representation led by Brodie Van Wagenen and rapper Jay-Z, to meet with upper-level Mariners management, Thursday evening and into today. While this is a major step in trying to convince Cano to sign a free-agent deal, a face-to-face meeting guarantees little. But having Jay-Z, who formed Roc Nation Sports in partnership with Creative Artists Agency, in the discussions means that talks are beyond preliminary. Cano became the first client for the fledgling sports management company, when he left super agent Scott Boras in April.

The Seattle Mariners have hired former catcher Dan Wilson as the roving minor league catching coordinator for the organization. The Mariners announced the hiring on Tuesday. Wilson will work with catchers at all levels of the organization beginning with spring training and continuing through the season. He will travel to each of Seattle’s minor league affiliates to work with catchers. The 44-year-old played 14 seasons, catching for two years in Cincinnati before spending the rest of his career in Seattle. An All-Star in 1996, Wilson ended his career with the sixth-highest fielding percentage for a catcher in major league history. – AP

One down, one to go. With Chuck Armstrong’s decision Monday afternoon to retire as the Seattle Mariners president and CEO effective Jan. 14, 2014, the question now becomes: When will Howard Lincoln follow suit? For Mariners fans, aggrieved over 12 years of tepid teams, no playoffs and scant hope, Lincoln’s departure can’t come soon enough.

SEATTLE – Lloyd McClendon is bringing an entirely new coaching staff to Seattle, although a number of his additions have ties to the Mariners organization. McClendon announced his coaching staff on Monday, with only two of his hires coming from outside of the club. Instead, McClendon is promoting a number of coaches from the minors and still holding out the possibility that one coach may return from the previous staff under Eric Wedge but in a different role.

Lloyd McClendon wanted to be in Seattle three years ago, when he finished as a runner-up to Eric Wedge for the Mariners’ managerial opening. Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik was impressed that every time he crossed paths with McClendon in the time that passed, there was no sulking or no hard feelings about losing out. Their paths circled back around when McClendon was named Seattle’s new manager earlier this week. He was introduced on Thursday, showing a mix of quiet intensity, a sense of humor and a belief that Seattle can finally return to winning after a dozen years without a postseason appearance. McClendon replaces Wedge, who walked away at the end of the season citing differences with the front office. It’s McClendon’s second managerial job. – AP