Mariners Finally Sack Bavasi. Who's Next?

It's about time the Seattle Mariners fired Bill Bavasi, the general manager whose ill-advised trades contributed to the team's position in baseball's cellar this year, writes Ken Rosenthal for Fox Sports. But simply jettisoning the guy who got the least possible return out of a $117 million payroll won't be enough to turn this sinking ship around.

CEO Howard Lincoln should go, too, but he's too well favored by the ownership. Manager John McLaren could be on the axe list, and Rosenthal would love to see pitcher Erik Bedard, the ace for whom Bavasi traded so much talent, leave the organization as well. But ultimately, shedding the GM was a necessary and obvious first step, though long overdue. (More Seattle Mariners stories.)