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Mariners give GM Zduriencik contract extension

By WTOP Staff

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners rewarded general manager Jack Zduriencik on Tuesday, giving him a multiyear contract extension while the team contends for its first playoff spot since 2001.

The team didn’t release details of his new deal.

Seattle went into Tuesday night’s game against Texas in the races for the AL West and the wild-card spots. At 71-59, the Mariners — boosted by the offseason signing of Robinson Cano, plus some recent moves — had already matched their win total for all of last year.

“I’m excited, I’m happy to be here for a few more years,” Zduriencik said. “I believe in what we’re doing, I believe in the people that we have in place.”

“Hasn’t always been easy. I think we put a plan in place and you do what your gut instincts tell you to do. I think where we’re at right now is we’re in a good spot as an organization,” he said.

The 63-year-old Zduriencik has been Seattle’s GM since 2008. The Mariners haven’t reached the playoffs since losing in the AL championship series for the second straight time in 2001.

Mariners President Kevin Mather said he had discussions with ownership in January about Zduriencik’s long-term position and got the go-ahead to support him with an extension.

Zduriencik said he didn’t feel the need to broach such talks because he was focused on the day-to-day aspects of his job. Mather said the logistics came together Tuesday.

“It was as simple as I had lunch scheduled with him, we were talking about 2015,” Mather said. “It literally was that simple.”

“The question really was, ‘Do you like it here, are we treating you OK, are you enjoying your job, are we treating you right?’ He said, ‘I love it here, my family loves it here.'”

Zduriencik’s tenure with Seattle has been a mix of hits and misses, but the past two offseasons have proven fruitful in getting ace Felix Hernandez signed to a long-term contract, hiring Lloyd McClendon as manager and getting Cano with an offer of $240 million for 10 years.

Combined with the additions of Austin Jackson, Kendrys Morales and Chris Denorfia at the trade deadline and a pitching staff with the best ERA in the majors, the Mariners are in the postseason race.

Seattle also been helped by the continued development of third baseman Kyle Seager, a Zduriencik draft pick who earned his first All-Star selection this season. And Dustin Ackley, a former No. 2 overall pick by Zduriencik, has started to become the hitter in the second half of this season that the Mariners expected.

“I think there’s a lot of things that happen when you run an organization. A lot of things that don’t always go exactly as you hope they would go and there’s oftentimes a lot of things that happen where you can’t comment on it,” Zduriencik said. “You’re just not in a position to make any public statement.”

“But if you believe in what you believe in and you know what you’re doing is right, sometimes moves and decisions that happen are a little bit unpopular and sometimes there are things that get a little bit off track, but you have to stay the course and believe what you believe in,” he said.

Zduriencik came to Seattle after serving as an assistant GM with the Milwaukee Brewers. He also spent time with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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