Scott Servais introduced as new Seattle Mariners manager

The Seattle Mariners introduced Scott Servais as their new manager at an introductory press conference Monday at Safeco Field.

Servais, who was an assistant general manager with the Los Angles Angels and a former major league catcher with no prior managerial experience, was named the organization's 17th full-time skipper on Friday.

General manager Jerry Dipoto on Monday called the hiring of Servais as "the next step toward a new beginning for the Mariners organization."

Servais, 48, and Dipoto shared a working relationship in Los Angeles, where Servais oversaw scouting and player development as the assistant GM. Servais and Dipoto also were teammates for the first five months of the 2000 season when Dipoto was a reliever for the Colorado Rockies. Servais was a pro scout for the Rockies in 2005 when Dipoto was their director of player development.

"What Scott has done throughout the course of his career is wear many hats," Dipoto said. "Throughout that, I think he's worn each one of them well. Over the course of the last roughly three decades, he's been, I think, preparing to wear the hat he gets to wear today."

The Mariners were seeking a replacement for Lloyd McClendon, who was let go by Dipoto on Oct. 9 after the 2015 season. Dipoto was hired by the Mariners in late September after stepping down as Angels general manager earlier this year.

"This is a dream come true. I've certainly taken a different path to get here today," Servais said Monday. "But every step of the way, it's been a goal of mine to manage a big-league club. I look forward to competing at the highest level with the greatest players in the world.

"I guarantee you, we will be prepared. We will be disciplined in how we play. We will play with energy. I believe it's OK to show emotion once in a while. And we will compete. ... The Mariners fans deserve that. This is a chance to have a great organization, to be a part of building a culture. Everybody in this organization is a part of building that culture.

"I wish the 2016 season started tomorrow. I'm ready to roll."

Servais announced Monday that he will retain hitting coach Edgar Martinez and Chris Woodward as first base coach, with Tim Bogar joining the Mariners as bench coach and Mel Stottlemyre Jr. as pitching coach.

Martinez, 52, was named hitting coach on June 21, 2014. He had an 18-year major league career, all with the Mariners.

Woodward, 39, spent the last two seasons as a coach on the Mariners' staff, including last season as first base coach. He began his coaching career with the Mariners in 20013 as the minor league infield coordinator after retiring from a 17-year pro baseball career.

Bogar, who will turn 49 on Oct. 28, spent the 2015 season as the Angels' special assistant to the general manager. Prior to joining the Angels, he spent the 2014 season on the Texas Rangers' staff as bench coach and interim manager after he replaced Ron Washington on Sept. 5, 2014.

Stottlemyre Jr., 51, has spent the past 13 years in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, most recently as the bullpen coach last season following stints as the minor league pitching coordinator, major league pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator.