KING

Safeco Field

SEATTLE - New Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has started his remodel of the franchise, removing Bob Fontaine as the Mariners vice president of scouting.

The team made the move official on Tuesday. It was first reported in Tuesday's editions of The Seattle Times, citing unnamed sources. The paper also said Zduriencik would bring Tony Blengino, his top assistant in Milwaukee, to Seattle.

"Bob is an outstanding person, and an outstanding professional," Zduriencik said. "Decisions of this nature are never easy."

Fontaine came to Seattle with former general manager Bill Bavasi. He served as the Mariners scouting director since being hired in December 2003 and previously worked with the Chicago White Sox, San Diego, Montreal and the Los Angeles Angels.

The team said a new scouting director would be named later.