"He wasn't upset or nothing," said Manuel, reached by phone in Winter Haven, Fla. "That's not the case at all. He was pretty happy. I guess there's some things he wants to think about."

Williams, 65, brought managerial experience to Manuel's staff when he was hired before the 2007 season and often worked with pitchers on their hitting and fielding. Manuel doesn't believe Williams has any serious health problems, only a bum hip and cranky knees, and although Williams hasn't expressed interest in managing again, Manuel doesn't think he's planning to retire.

Asked if he thought Williams would change his mind, Manuel said, "It doesn't seem that way. I don't know that he's looking to retire. I think Jimy will stay in the game."

Sam Perlozzo was added to the coaching staff, though there was no immediate announcement on whether he'd be the third base coach or the bench coach. Former managers Jim Tracy and Terry Collins have been mentioned as possibilities for the bench coach opening.

Looper, 60, spent the past 23 seasons with the Mariners and had the endorsement of former Phillies GM Pat Gillick, who is staying with the team as an adviser. For the past three years, Looper was Seattle's vice president of player personnel.

"I've known his reputation even before Pat's influence," Amaro said in a telephone interview. "His reputation as a baseball man and someone who will be deeply involved is well-documented. We felt like he was a perfect fit."

LaMar, 52, received great credit from Gillick for leading the five-man scouting contingent that assembled reports on the Tampa Bay Rays before the World Series. He will oversee the minor league system, a job held mostly by minor league director Steve Noworyta last season. Amaro said Noworyta will assist LaMar.