Lloyd McClendon not expected to return as Mariners' manager

— -- Lloyd McClendon is not expected to return as manager of the Seattle Mariners next season, a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden.

The Mariners have not made the playoffs in McClendon's two years at the helm. They went 87-75 his first year, missing the postseason by one game. Last year, the club went 76-86 despite lofty expectations, leading to the dismissal of general manager Jack Zduriencik in late August.

Zduriencik, who hired McClendon, was eventually replaced by former  Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, who was hired as the new Mariners GM on Sept. 29.

With the Toronto Blue Jays making the postseason this year, the Mariners are now the team with the longest current playoff absence in baseball -- 14 years and counting.

McClendon's replacement will be the Mariners' ninth manager since they last made the playoffs in 2001.

McClendon managed the Pittsburgh Pirates for five seasons before being fired close to the tail end of the 2005 season.