News

Mariners “make amends” with former employees over harassment allegations

Seattle Mariners team president Kevin Mather looks on during a news conference Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Seattle. Nintendo of America plans to sell its controlling stake in the Mariners to a group of minority owners led by Stanton. Current Chairman Howard Lincoln announced the intended transaction, along with his plan to retire from day-to-day oversight of the franchise. The ownership change is subject to approval by Major League Baseball, which the club hopes to get during league meetings in August. Photo: Associated Press/Elaine Thompson


SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners say they have “made amends” with former female employees who made allegations of harassment against current team president and CEO Kevin Mather.

The club issued statements from majority owner John Stanton and Mather on Wednesday. Stanton said two female employees complained more than 10 years ago of inappropriate language and treatment by executives. Stanton said an outside expert conducted an investigation and “we imposed appropriate discipline, management and sensitivity training, and other corrective actions.”

The statements were in response to a story published by The Seattle Times detailing some of the allegations against Mather and two other former executives.

The newspaper reported the club had made settlement payments of about $500,000 to two former female executive assistants, including one who worked for Mather and another who worked for then-Executive Vice President Bob Aylward. The newspaper also reported that there was another settlement with a third woman, who said she felt pressured to kiss then-team President Chuck Armstrong.

Aylward and Armstrong declined to comment. Both had already retired from their formal roles.

The Mariners didn’t deny but also didn’t specifically address the settlements in question. Instead, the organization’s lawyer, Fred Rivera, issued a written statement noting broadly that the team on rare occasions has “made financial compensation to employees and exacted financial compensation from employees to remedy” violations.

Mather said it was a humbling experience for him to “confront some unpleasant realities” about himself. He took responsibility for his actions and apologized for his behavior that he described as intimidating, mean and inappropriate in the workplace.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to change my behavior and the management training I received,” Mather said in the club’s statement.

The Mariners also praised Mather, saying that they took the issue into consideration when deciding to promote him to president in 2014 and to chief executive in 2017.

The statement said: “Kevin learned from the experience and has since been an outstanding manager and executive. … We would not have promoted Kevin if we had any doubt about his ability to lead and to meet our high standards.”

Recent Headlines

5 hours ago in Sports

Patrick Mahomes suffers a torn ACL and Chiefs say he’s considering surgical options

Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee while trying to keep the Kansas City Chiefs' postseason hopes alive in the waning seconds of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and the two-time MVP quarterback was considering surgical options.

5 hours ago in Sports

Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons feared to have torn ACL, AP source says

Micah Parsons is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the All-Pro pass rusher's injury told The Associated Press on Sunday.

4 hours ago in Local Sports, Local Sports, Northwest Sports, Professional, Sports

Seahawks ride Jason Myers’ leg to beat Philip Rivers and Colts

Myers kicks franchise-record six field goals in the win

3 days ago in Sports, Trending

Sherrone Moore charged with stalking, home invasion after being fired as Michigan football coach

Fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore "barged his way" into the apartment of a woman with whom he had been having an affair and threatened to kill himself after she reported the relationship to the school and he lost his job, prosecutors said Friday.