Mariners Hire Lefebvre; Astros Pick Art Howe

Jim Lefebvre and Art Howe, for the first time in their careers, joined the ranks of major league managers in hirings announced Monday.

Lefebvre, 46, third base coach and hitting instructor for the Oakland Athletics for the past two years, was selected by the Seattle Mariners to replace interim manager Jimmy Snyder, who took over in June when Dick Williams was fired.

Art Howe, 41, a coach for the past four seasons with the Texas Rangers, was hired by the Houston Astros, who had fired Hal Lanier at the end of last season.

Lefebvre, 1965 rookie of the year with the Dodgers, said he was determined to turn around the Mariners, who have never had a winning season in the club’s 12-year history. The Mariners’ best record was 78-84 in 1987.

Lefebvre managed Lethbridge of the Pioneer League in 1978 and Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League in 1985-86. Besides the A’s, he was a coach for the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants from 1978 to 1982.

Howe, who played 7 of his 11 major league seasons with the Astros, said re-signing free-agent pitcher Nolan Ryan would be among his priorities. He said former Astro outfielder Jose Cruz would be considered for a coaching position. Howe’s only managing experience has been 4 years in Puerto Rico.