Mariners bring back coaching staff

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Mariners will bring back their entire coaching staff next season following a last-place finish in the AL West.

Manager Eric Wedge made the announcement Wednesday. The young Mariners went 67-95 during Wedge's first season in Seattle.

The returning coaches are: Robby Thompson (bench coach), Carl Willis (pitching coach), Chris Chambliss (hitting coach), Mike Brumley (first base coach), Jeff Datz (third base coach), Jaime Navarro (bullpen coach) and Jason Phillips (bullpen catcher).

Wedge said that despite finishing well below .500, the Mariners created a "mindset here last season, and we are looking forward to improvement in 2012."

Seattle has finished last in the AL West the past two years and three of the last four.