November 1, 200520 yr ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ? (AP) ? Two days after gauging Bobby Valentine's interest by telephone, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made the former New York Mets manager one of three finalists for the club's vacant managerial position. Departed Devil Rays manager Lou Pinella's top assistant, John McLaren, and Los Angeles Angels bench coach Joe Maddon also remain in the running, with a second round of interviews set during next week's general managers meetings in Indian Wells, Calif. Devil Rays executives Matt Silverman and Andrew Friedman, who are conducting the search on behalf of new principal owner Stuart Sternberg, hope to make a decision on Piniella's successor within 10 days to two weeks. Valentine, who led the Chiba Lotte Marines to the Japan League championship last week, spoke with the Devil Rays for more than two hours Sunday. The Los Angeles Dodgers are also expected to make a run at the former Mets and Texas Rangers manager. McLaren spent the last 13 seasons as part of Piniella's staffs in Seattle and Tampa Bay. He was the Devil Rays' bench coach and joined three other members of the organization ? coaches Billy Hatcher and Tom Foley, as well as minor league manager Bill Evers ? in interviewing for the position that opened when the Devil Rays bought out the final year of Piniella's contract. Hatcher, Foley, Evers, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Atlanta hitting coach Terry Pendleton and former Detroit Alan Trammell were contacted Tuesday and told they were not among the finalists. Tampa Bay also interviewed Joe Girardi before the former New York Yankees bench coach was hired to manage the Florida Marlins. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays exercised their half of a $1.4 million mutual option for next season with pitcher Casey Fossum. The left-hander has 72 hours to respond.
November 2, 200520 yr poor baby drays ... they first had to deal with the outburst of Pinella and now they'll have to deal (if it happens) to the antics of Valentine
November 2, 200520 yr Bobby V should go to LA. I read that Lasorda is even willing to make him the GM there
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