Martinez, a 34-year veteran of the organization, most recently served as the franchise's senior vice president of marketing and communications."Over the course of our search, Kevin set himself apart with his creativity, his vision and his passion for our team and our organization," Mariners chairman John Stanton said in a statement. "I had the opportunity, along with Jeff Raikes, to talk to outstanding candidates from both outside and within our front office.
"I believe our team is on the doorstep of our greatest moments and achievements and my focus is working with the talented people within our organization to reach those heights on behalf of all of our fans."While the team on the field has struggled mightily at times throughout Martinez's tenure, his efforts to effectively promote the franchise have been widely praised.