Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - Lou Piniella has reportedly asked out of the final year of his $6.8 million contract as manager of the Seattle Mariners, a position he has held since 1993.

According to a report in the Seattle Times, the 59-year-old Piniella made the request during a meeting Friday in Tampa, Florida, with three Seattle team officials, including CEO Howard Lincoln.

"I asked them if I could be allowed to get closer to home," Piniella told the paper. "We had an amicable meeting. We talked for over an hour. Now they're going to make a decision."

He later told the St. Petersburg Times that he had asked, "for permission to talk to other teams."

Teams are forbidden, however, from talking to Piniella until he is released or prospective suitors have permission from the Mariners to speak with him.

When asked if there were a timeline, Piniella said, "Soon. That's all I can say."

The manager's contract with Seattle extends through the 2003 season, so the team will probably want compensation for losing Piniella, who led the team to a 93-69 record in 2002.

Twice the AL Manager of the Year, he owns an 840-711 record in 10 seasons with Seattle, which he led to four playoff appearances. Last season, Seattle tied the major league record with 116 wins and made it to the AL championship series for a second straight season. Piniella managed the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series title in 1990.

The Mariners finished third in a very strong AL West this season, behind Oakland and Anaheim, and missed the playoffs.