New general manager Jack Zduriencik spent a week interviewing the seven men who are on his short list to be the next Mariners manager.

None of the seven—Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills, White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, Diamondbacks third base coach Chip Hale, A's bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Class AAA Portland manager Randy Ready, Boston third base coach DeMarlo Hale and St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo—has managed in the big leagues.

But as the interviews drew to a close, Zduriencik suggested there might yet be more interviews to come. Zduriencik wanted to catch his breath, but a couple of unnamed veteran managers might make their case for the job.

"I need to step back from this a bit," Zduriencik said.

Seven interviews in four, whirlwind days. Early breakfast meetings, power lunches, late-dinner talks and reference calls. All that has apparently whittled the Mariners' search for a new manager down to three final candidates and one or two possible wild cards. Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said he probably has three men he prefers over the other four and will likely bring them back for a...