Seattle Mariners offseason: Team searches for permanent radio host alongside Rick Rizzs

The Seattle Mariners are in the process of searching for a permanent play-by-play announcer to work the radio broadcast with lead announcer Rick Rizzs, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times reported on Friday afternoon.

"We had a transitional period of time,and after two years we think it's now time to give Rick Rizzs a full-time partner in the radio booth,'' Randy Adamack, the Mariners' vice president for communications said. "We're hearing from a lot of potential interested candidates."

The team is aiming to have a person in place by mid-January.

The Mariners have used a rotating band of announcers after the death of longtime announcer Dave Niehaus in November, 2010. Niehaus was brought on to announce the Mariners when the team started in 1977, and announced almost every game up until his death.

Rather than straight up replacing Niehaus, the Mariners elected to bring in a host of familiar names with the franchise to work alongside Rizzs during the broadcast. Ken Wilson, Ken Levine, Ron Fairly, Dan Wilson, Jay Buhner, Dave Valle, Dave Henderson and Mike Curto all took turns with the radio broadcast.

Niehaus received the Ford C. Frick award in 2008, which recognizes career excellence in baseball broadcasting. In 2000, he was the second person to be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. He passed away at the age of 75.