Mike Flanagan is a New Hampshire native who grew up 60 miles from Fenway Park, so he was thrilled this week when he found out the Boston Red Sox wanted to interview him for their general manager's position.
At the same time, Flanagan is one of the leading candidates to replace Orioles vice president for baseball operations Syd Thrift. Flanagan has spent most of his career with the Orioles, as a pitcher, pitching coach, broadcaster and consultant to owner Peter Angelos.
Asked yesterday how he felt about the potential tug of war, Flanagan said, "Nothing's been finalized [with Thrift], and obviously there are eight or 10 candidates coming in for that. As you see, a lot of places have run a lot of people through, and I'm flattered to be one of them.
"I'm going in [to the Red Sox interview] with the mind-set that I want to be chosen for the job. Whether I take it or not, that's another issue, but I'm flattered to be part of the interview process."
Though the decision with Thrift isn't final yet, the Orioles have compiled a list of replacement candidates that includes Flanagan, former Orioles star Cal Ripken, former Montreal Expos general manager Jim Beattie, former Chicago White Sox GM Ron Schueler, former Anaheim Angels GM Bill Bavasi, Oakland Athletics assistant GM Ron DePodesta, New York Mets senior assistant GM Jim Duquette, Arizona Diamondbacks assistant Sandy Johnson and Detroit Tigers assistant GM Al Avila.
There were no new developments yesterday. The Orioles still need permission from the Expos, for example, to interview Beattie, and they probably won't seek it until an announcement is made with Thrift.
Flanagan attended the University of Massachusetts and has ties to the new Red Sox regime from his Orioles playing days. He was a pitcher when Red Sox president Larry Lucchino and executive vice president Charles Steinberg were starting out with Edward Bennett Williams.
Flanagan also was here when current Red Sox assistant GM Theo Epstein was an intern in the Orioles' public relations department. Many feel Epstein is being groomed to eventually take over as Boston's GM.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Lucchino confirmed that Flanagan would be interviewing Monday or Tuesday. The Red Sox are considering him for the GM job as well as an advisory role.
"It's flattering in the fact that other people feel I have the capabilities of doing the job, otherwise I don't think they'd be wasting their time," Flanagan said. "I'm sure they'll want to hear what I have to say, and I want to hear what they have to say."
Bordick files
Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick filed for free agency this week, but his agent called the move a formality. Bordick, who was contemplating retirement, has notified the Orioles he wants to return next season.
With the Orioles facing some tough 40-man roster decisions, they might have been forced to release Bordick had he not filed for free agency. Under that scenario, they wouldn't have been able to re-sign him until May 1.
"We didn't think that made any sense," Bordick's agent Joe Bick said. "Especially given it's the only place he wants to play."
Perlozzo interviews
Bench coach Sam Perlozzo interviewed for the Seattle Mariners job yesterday, along with New York Yankees third base coach Willie Randolph.
Hentgen contract numbers
The Orioles saved a lot of money when they renegotiated Pat Hentgen's contract this week. Hentgen had an option year remaining at $6 million, but the Orioles bought that out for $600,000, then re-signed him to a $1.2 million base salary with innings incentives that can pay him up to $4 million.
The new contract has an option for 2004 at $4 million with a $300,000 buyout.
Mets to interview Walling
The New York Mets received permission from the Orioles to interview Denny Walling for hitting coach under new manager Art Howe. Walling served as the Orioles' minor-league hitting instructor last year.
High-ranked picks
Major League Baseball's scouting bureau ranked the top players in the country for next year's draft, and three of the top 13 players were Orioles draft picks who went unsigned.
Adam Loewen, a left-hander at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., ranks as the top draft-eligible player in the country. The Orioles made him the fourth overall selection in last year's draft, but he wanted a $4 million signing bonus. The Orioles still have a small chance of signing him once his season ends this spring.
Tim Stauffer, a right-hander at the University of Richmond, ranks as the sixth draft-eligible player in the country. The Orioles took him out of high school in the 36th round in 2000, but he elected to go to college.
Kyle Sleeth, a right-hander from Wake Forest, ranks as the 13th best player on the board. The Orioles took him out of high school in the 18th round of the 2000 draft, but he chose to go to college.
If nothing else, these offer proof that the Orioles are selecting good players, even in the lower rounds.