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Armstrong said Thursday that the team's major goal is to rebuild through "a comprehensive plan" and that any general-manager candidate will have to present one to him in applying for the job.

"If I have my way, the plan will be that we're not going to make a splash in 2009," Armstrong said of new financial commitments. "We want the ability to contend on a continuing, year-by-year-by-year basis."

This year, with a payroll nearing $118 million, the Mariners are trying to avoid being the first major-league team to spend nine figures while losing 100 games.

Armstrong insisted the team's executive branch has learned plenty from this trying season and will try to avoid falling into a similar trap the next time.

Armstrong is leaving open the possibility that a GM candidate will come in and blow him away with a plan to contend immediately. But Armstrong said he doubts it will happen, largely because the folks he's already talked to around the game don't feel it can be done.

The team's payroll will likely be dropping significantly next season just in terms of the contracts coming off the books. Richie Sexson, Jose Vidro and Brad Wilkerson are already gone, taking about $24 million with them that won't be on next year's payroll.

Armstrong says his GM candidates list is "in the low 20s" now and will be pared to between 10 and 15 by season's end. He hopes to have two rounds of interviews and pick a GM by late October.

"If I have my way, the plan will be that we're not going to make a splash in 2009," Armstrong said of new financial commitments. "We want the ability to contend on a continuing, year-by-year-by-year basis."