Seattle Mariners president Kevin Mather apologizes for'terrible lapse in judgment' Following recent disparaging comments surface

Mather's remarks were made into your Bellevue, Washington, rotary club Feb. 5 and have been posted on the internet on the weekend.

"I want to apologize to each member of the Seattle Mariners business, especially our players as well as our fans," Mather said in a statement. "There is no explanation for my behavior, and I take full responsibility for my horrible lapse in judgment"

He added:"I have been on the phone most of the day now apologizing to many people I have insulted, hurt, or frustrated in speaking at a new online event. I am committed to make amends for what I mentioned that were personally hurtful and I'll do whatever it takes to repair the harm I've caused to the Seattle Mariners organization."

In his remarks to the club, Mather spoke about former Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, who was hired in January as a special assignment coach with the club, and his need to get a translator and his English skills.

"For example, we just rehired (Hisashi) Iwakuma (as a special-assignment trainer ), he had been a pitcher with us for a number of years. Beautiful human being, his English was dreadful," Mather said. "He wanted to get back in the match, he came to us, we really honestly want him Asian scout/interpreter, what is going on with the Western league. He is coming to spring training.

"And I will say, I'm tired of paying interpreter. When he was a player, we'd cover Iwakuma'X,' but we'd also have to pay $75,000 annually to have an interpreter with him. His Language suddenly got better. His English got better when we advised him ."

He is loud. His English isn't tremendous."

Mather addressed the team's payroll and watching the fiscal bottom line. He said he believed top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert probably won't start the season with the team for a way to manipulate their major league service time and keep them under club management longer.

Mather said the club attempted to signal Kelenic into a long-term contract and has been rebuffed in its efforts.

Mather also stated longtime third baseman Kyle Seager are a future Mariners Hall of Famer but also was"overpaid." Seager is in the final year of his contract with the Mariners and will be Seattle's highest-paid participant at $18 million.

Mather was with the group since 1996.