SEATTLE -- Jim Riggleman said he has known new Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik for several years and there is a "mutual respect" between them, a connection the current manager hopes will keep him in Seattle next season.

Zduriencik was named on Wednesday as the organization's eighth full-time GM and will be introduced to the Seattle-area media on Friday at a 10 a.m. PT press conference at Safeco Field.

One of his first duties as GM will be to hire a manager.

"Jack has been in the game about as long as I have and we have come across each other many times," Riggleman said. "There is a mutual respect there, but I don't know if that will lead to anything. I don't know what my status is."

Riggleman said he has a "couple of irons in the fire" elsewhere, but his heart remains in Seattle.

"Everyone in the organization knows of my desire to come back," said Riggleman, who compiled a 36-54 record after replacing John McLaren on June 19. "I just hope to be considered a candidate."

If the Mariners decide to go in another direction and cut ties with Riggleman, he could wind up as a coach with the Washington Nationals. He reportedly is being considered for a spot on manager Manny Acta's staff, possibly as bench coach -- the same position he had with the Mariners last season prior to McLaren's dismissal.

"I don't want to commit to anything until I hear from Seattle," Riggleman said.

Near the end of the Mariners' 101-loss season -- the first time they hit triple digits in losses since 1983 -- club president Chuck Armstrong said he had complied a list of 10 potential managerial candidates for the then-unknown Mariners GM.

Armstrong said Riggleman's name was on that list.

And prior to the final game of the season, Riggleman talked about his desire to return.

"I can promise you that nobody wants to manage this club more than I do," he said, "and nobody is more prepared to manage this club than I am. But if I don't manage this club [next season], I am not going to point to anything other than the fact I did not win enough games."

The past three weeks have not changed his desire to pick up where he left off.

But he definitely has some competition. Among the candidates that reportedly might be considered for the job are former Brewers manager Ned Yost, former Athletics managers Ken Macha and Art Howe and former Mets managers Willie Randolph and Bobby Valentine.