Mariners secret to retaining top talent Felix Hernandez

At our recent CEOtoCEO Breakfast speaker Jack Zduriencik, GM of the Mariners, was asked to share the secret to retaining Felix Hernandez the team's Ace pitcher for the next five years. Jack modestly told us it was easy …. "What's not to like about being paid $78 M for 5 years when you're 23 years old?" Baseball pundits say Felix's performance was worth significantly more money than what he agreed to with the Mariners.

A secret to keeping top talent? Jack told the executives in attendance that when the Mariners shared the organizations values, vision and mission of the future, and strategies to develop and retain top talent with Felix his response was "I'm in."