This was an opportunity to come into an organization and create a vision and I feel like this is the best way to do that,'' Dipoto said.
Dipoto came to Seattle after leaving behind a rocky relationship with the Angels and manager Mike Scioscia over the summer. Scioscia was already entrenched when Dipoto was hired in Los Angeles.
Rather than try to force a relationship in Seattle, Dipoto will now be able to bring in someone he wants to work with, although he said the situation with the Angels didn't play heavily into his decision with McClendon.
''I thought through all the different angles, the way the clubhouse would be affected, the way the organization would be affected,'' Dipoto said. ''I incorporated a number of people in making the decision and I'm comfortable with it.''
Dipoto said he wants a manager who is energetic, a good teacher and has experience in a major league clubhouse but previous coaching or managing experience isn't necessary. And he has a list in mind.
FILE - In this June 2, 2015, file photo, Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon, left, yells as he
''Leadership will be an important element to me and energy will be an important element to me. Players need to be energized, to be inspired to do something,'' Dipoto said.
The Mariners said hitting coach Edgar Martinez and infield coach Chris Woodward have been invited to remain with the Mariners staff and Dipoto was hopeful both would accept. Pitching coach Rick Waits and coach Chris Prieto have been invited to remain with the organization in different roles. All other coaches on the major league staff will not return.
Martinez joined the club as hitting coach in June.
''Listening to him break down hitting and how clearly invested he was in making the players better, really excited,'' Dipoto said. ''I'm very excited about the opportunity to bring him back and I think he is. This is where he wants to be.''
Seattle was McClendon's second chance as a manager and he raised hopes of a turnaround after the Mariners went 87-75 in his first season and missed the playoffs by one game. But Seattle could not sustain the success from the first season and, combined with Zduriencik's firing, McClendon's status was in doubt once Dipoto took charge.
McClendon was 163-161 in his two seasons with the Mariners and was the only black manager in baseball. Dipoto's decision means Seattle will have its 10th manager - full-time and interim - since the club's last playoff appearance in 2001.
McClendon was well-liked by his players in Seattle, specifically Robinson Cano. But the success of the first season - when Seattle had a lackluster offense but outstanding pitching - couldn't carry into the second year. Seattle's bullpen regressed significantly, the offense slogged through the first half of the season led by the struggles of Cano, and the Mariners could never recover from a 2-9 homestand in late May and early June.
''I look in the mirror every night and I know I gave it everything I had every day,'' McClendon said on the final day of the regular season. ''And, I said this earlier, my players gave me everything they had every day. Some nights it was good enough, some nights it wasn't very good. But, the effort was always there.''
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