Mariners Fire General Manager Jack Zduriencik

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have fired general manager Jack Zduriencik after seven disappointing seasons during which the club failed to end its playoff drought.

Team President Kevin Mather announced the decision to fire Zduriencik on Friday. Assistant general manager Jeff Kingston will take over on an interim basis.

Zduriencik came to Seattle before the 2009 season, arriving from Milwaukee as one of the top talent evaluators in baseball. But Seattle missed too often both in player development through the draft and in free agency under Zduriencik's watch.

Seattle had just two winning seasons during Zduriencik's tenure. The Mariners entered this season expected to end a 14-year playoff drought, but instead the club has floundered and began Friday 10 games under .500 and 12 games behind Houston in the AL West.