The Mariners announced today that President of Business Operations Catie Griggs has resigned from her position to pursue an opportunity closer to home and family. Griggs, a North Carolina native, joined the Mariners in July 2021, replacing former team president Kevin Mather, who fell from grace after making offensive comments at a Bellevue Rotary Club conference. Griggs represented a new direction for the club and for baseball itself: At the time of her hiring, she was the only woman in baseball to hold the title of “president” (she was joined in 2023 by the Marlins’ Caroline O’Connor, who now takes over the dubious distinction of being the only woman in baseball to hold that title).
When she joined the Mariners, Griggs spent most of her time with FC Atlanta, where she helped build a new fan base by prioritizing inclusion and making soccer more accessible to all. She brought that same vision with her to Seattle, as she was the driving force behind the Mariners’ new expanded value menu, aimed at making the stadium experience more affordable for families.
Following Griggs’ departure at the end of this month, Mariners chairman and managing partner John Stanton will assume Griggs’ duties until the Mariners name his successor.
In a statement provided by the Mariners, Griggs wrote: “I truly felt a mixture of emotions as I made the incredibly difficult decision to step down as President of Business Operations. After careful consideration, I have decided to prioritize our family and return to the East Coast to be closer to Justin and my aging parents.”
While it’s unclear what new role Griggs will take, it’s no surprise that someone with such deep roots in the South would want to return to familiar surroundings, especially to be closer to her aging family. However, it’s a significant loss for the organization and for women in MLB leadership roles, of which there are very few. Catie Griggs has been a welcome change from the toxicity of Kevin Mather and those who think like him. Hopefully, whoever the Mariners find to replace her shares Griggs’ values of inclusion and accessibility.
