Mariners appear set on Stottlemyre

The Seattle Mariners have all but settled their coaching staff for 2008, and an announcement is expected within days.

When it comes, one of the hires is expected to be an old hand at handling pitchers.

Mel Stottlemyre, whose New York Yankees staffs from 1996-2005 won four World Series titles, is in line to become the Mariners’ next pitching coach.

“I’m not actively looking for a job, but I would welcome an opportunity to be their pitching coach,” Stottlemyre told the MLB.com Web site. “It would be an easy transition for me to get back into the game.”

Stottlemyre, 66, lives in Sammamish, Wash. He talked with Mariners manager John McLaren early this month about joining the M’s.

McLaren said Thursday that most positions are set, but no announcement would be made until every job is filled.

“We’re finalizing things now and should have something to announce shortly,” McLaren said. “Not everybody is lined up yet.”

Only hitting coach Jeff Pentland will return from the 2007 coaching staff. Among the most recent names to surface as candidates for the 2008 staff are Stottlemyre as pitching coach, Jim Riggleman as bench coach, Larry Bowa as third-base coach, Eddie Rodriguez as first-base coach and Norm Charlton as bullpen coach.

Riggleman has managed the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs, and most recently worked as a minor league coordinator in the St. Louis Cardinals system.

Bowa was the Yankees’ third-base coach this year, but his future there has been unknown because of the uncertainty over manager Joe Torre. On Thursday, Torre rejected the Yankees’ offer to return next year.

Rodriguez managed the Mariners’ Double-A team in West Tennessee this year and Charlton, who pitched for the Mariners, has been a roving minor league pitching instructor in the organization.