The Seattle Mariners have interviewed a half dozen candidates as they narrow their search for a new general manager - but the field continues to shrink on its own.

Less than two days after Oakland assistant David Forst declined to interview, the Boston Herald reported that Red Sox assistant Jed Hoyer passed, as well.

If you're keeping track, that's three highly-considered assistant GMs - Cleveland's Chris Antonetti, Forst and Hoyer - who have said 'no thanks' to the chance to be one of 30 GMs in the game.

Each has cited personal reasons and a desire to stay with their team, but it's hard to imagine them doing the same if offered the chance to interview with, say, the Minnesota Twins or Arizona Diamondbacks.

There are plenty of people in the industry willing to work in Seattle and take on the challenge of turning this franchise around.

Still, it may be telling that at least three young executives weren't.