Mariners CEO Mather Resigns Following Rotary Remarks

SEATTLE, WA — Kevin Mather stepped down as president and CEO of the Seattle Mariners following public outcry against his recent remarks to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club, which critics characterized as offensive, callous and racist. The team confirmed the news Monday.

Mather responded to the controversy with a statement Sunday apologizing for the remarks and saying they did not reflect "the views and strategy of the Mariners baseball leadership."

Mariners Chairman John Stanton confirmed Mather's resignation in a statement Monday.

"Like all of you, I was extremely disappointed when I learned of Kevin Mather's recent comments.

"His comments were inappropriate and do not represent our organization's feelings about our players, staff, and fans.

"There is no excuse for what was said, and I won't try to make one. I offer my sincere apology on behalf of the club and my partners to our players and fans. We must be, and do, better."

Stanton will serve as the Mariners' acting president and CEO until a permanent successor is chosen.

Mather's resignation followed a speech to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club on Feb. 5 that was uploaded to YouTube and circulated widely on social media. The video has since been removed, but the backlash remains: Many who have seen the speech say Mather's remarks were offensive, callous and racist.

Mather twice brought up and criticized Mariners players' ability to speak English, saying he was tired of paying for an interpreter for Hisashi Iwakuma and that Julio Rodriguez's English "is not tremendous." Iwakuma is from Japan, and Rodriguez is from the Dominican Republic.

Rodriquez, for his part, offered a quick response over Twitter.

In his 45-minute remarks, Mather also revealed sensitive financial information regarding the team, player and employee salaries and discussed his decision not to call up Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert in a way that Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish called "obtuse, indifferent, callous and petty."

By Sunday, calls were mounting for Mather to be removed. The Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement calling Mather's remarks "highly disturbing" and "offensive."