Given the choice of working for the Seattle Mariners or the Cubs, John McLaren’s decision to return to the Northwest came down to a page of 20 questions Thursday.
“I made a ledger of 20 things to consider for Chicago and Seattle, kept one and gave my wife one,” McLaren said, “and it was overwhelmingly for the Mariners for both of us–they were almost identical.”
Those questions answered, the 55-year-old McLaren agreed to serve as Seattle manager Mike Hargrove’s bench coach for the 2007 season, picking up where he left off in 2002.
A Mariners coach for 10 years under Lou Piniella, McLaren left when Piniella did after the ’02 season, unsure if new manager Bob Melvin wanted him.
McLaren worked in Tampa Bay with Piniella, spent last year scouting for the Devil Rays and this week was offered the bench-coaching position for the Cubs under the newly hired Piniella.
“I was scouting the fall league in Peoria (Ariz.), and I had already talked to Lou, and (Seattle assistant general manager) Lee Pelekoudas called,” McLaren said. “He asked would I come over and talk to him.”
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He said walked across the parking lot and spoke with Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi and Pelekoudas.
“The next day the Cubs called, and I said I wasn’t ready to sign a contract. I met with Mike [Hargrove] on Wednesday, and they called back later and offered me the job.”
A major-league coach for 20 years, McLaren still would love to manage and wondered if the perception that he was “Piniella’s guy” hadn’t somehow unfairly labeled him.
“I think I’ve done a good job for Lou, and if I come in here and do a good job and if I do my part and people take notice, it will help me,” he said.