Seattle Mariners GM coming back

Jack Zduriencik will return in 2011 as the Mariners’ general manager, team president Chuck Armstrong confirmed Tuesday. Elaborating on a report by Foxsports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, Armstrong said, “He’s going to be back. We’re not even contemplating changing general managers. Jack Zduriencik is our general manager. In Jack we trust – isn’t that what the button says?” Zduriencik’s future had become the subject of speculation in light of the Mariners’ disastrous record and the controversy surrounding the acquisition of Josh Lueke in the Cliff Lee trade. But Armstrong said, “We’re already planning with Jack for next year.” Zduriencik returned early from the Mariners’ final trip, which ends Wednesday in Texas, and had a long meeting this morning with Armstrong at Safeco Field. “It’s full-speed ahead,” Armstrong said. “We met for 2 1/2 hours on everything from the manager search, the pro scouting director, what scouts will be back, the end-of-season meeting – everything we’ve got going on.” Armstrong, finishing his 25th season as Mariners president in two separate stints, said he plans to return next year, as well. “I haven’t been told otherwise,” he said. “I think we have unfinished business. This season has been a mess. We want to fix it.”