Update – Mariners to fire Scouting Director for botched acquisition of Josh Lueke?

9/13 13:31: The Mariners have confirmed that Fusco has been fired, effective immediately, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. The Mariners are not saying why Fusco was fired, but speculation is due to the botched acquisition of Josh Leuke.

9/13 03:23: A source close to KING 5 Sports says the Seattle Mariners organization have told Professional Scouting Director Carmen Fusco that he will not return next year. The reasoning behind this decision was because of the way the team handled the Cliff Lee trade that included pitcher Josh Lueke.

Lueke was involved in a May 2008 case for sexually assaulting an unconscious 22-year-old woman in Bakersfield, California. He later plead no contest to a reduced charge of false imprisonment with violence and was sentenced to 40 days in prison.

Fusco has been in baseball for 35 years and was named Director of Professional Scouting for the Mariners on November 10th, 2008. The Mariners have not confirmed this story.