SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners hired Milwaukee Brewers special assistant Jack Zduriencik as their new general manager Wednesday.

The 57-year-old Zduriencik replaces Bill Bavasi, who was fired in June, and takes over for interim Lee Pelekoudas. Known for his skill in drafting players, Zduriencik worked with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.

Since arriving in Milwaukee in 1999, the team drafted Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks as well as 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, J.J Hardy, Corey Hart, Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra and Tony Gwynn Jr. — the young foundation of Milwaukee's playoff team this season.

"Seattle is an outstanding organization with great fans, a great ballpark and an ownership group committed to the goal of bringing a World Series to the Northwest," said Zduriencik, who has worked with major league teams for 25 years. "I believe that working together, we can make the Mariners a model franchise. I am looking forward to getting to work immediately, and developing a plan to reach our goal."

He's got a tall task. Seattle just became the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games in a season.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and club chief executive Howard Lincoln interviewed as many as 10 candidates in the last month, including, Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng.

"Jack is extremely well-respected throughout baseball," Lincoln said. "His track record in recognizing and developing young talent in Milwaukee was instrumental in the Brewers steady improvement over the past several seasons."