Eric Wedge says his uncertain contract status isn't the reason he decided not to return to the Seattle Mariners next season.

Wedge said Saturday he wouldn't have returned even if a long-term contract had been offered.

"Let me be clear here, the contract was not the reason I'm not coming back here," Wedge said. "If they'd offered me a five-year contract, I'm not coming back here."

Wedge said the reason behind his departure was a difference of opinion between him and Seattle's front office: CEO Howard Lincoln, president Chuck Armstrong and general manager Jack Zduriencik.

"Where they see the club, they being Howard, Chuck and Jack, and where I see the club, my vision of the future and theirs are just different," Wedge said. "That's as plain as I can make it."