Mariners could name manager by end of week

SEATTLE – General manager Jack Zduriencik’s gut may already have told him who the Seattle Mariners’ next manager should be, but he continued working Monday to make sure his instincts are correct.

No announcement is expected today and Zduriencik said Monday night it could be the end of the week before he’ll be ready.

“The sooner the better, but I can’t do it until I have all my questions answered,” he said.

Zduriencik interviewed seven last week – White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills, A’s bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Diamondbacks third-base coach Chip Hale, Red Sox third-base coach DeMarlo Hale, Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo and Class AAA Portland Beavers manager Randy Ready.

“I am in the home stretch,” Zduriencik said. “What I did (Monday) and what I plan to do (today) is continue dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s in terms of these guys’ backgrounds and histories so there are no surprises with our final selections.”