Varitek was Seattle's first-round Draft pick in 1994, but spent his entire 15-year Major League career with the Red Sox, who acquired Varitek and right-hander Derek Lowe in 1997 from the Mariners in exchange for Heathcliff Slocumb.
Other candidates whom the Mariners have interviewed or shown interest in, according to MLB.com and other reports, include Rays third base coach Charlie Montoyo, D-backs' Triple-A Reno manager Phil Nevin, former Angels front-office personnel Tim Bogar and Scott Servais and current ESPN analyst Alex Cora.
Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.