Ex-N.Y. Manager Piniella Says He’d Like to Pilot Reds : Baseball: Cincinnati General Manager Bob Quinn declines to say whether Yankees have been contacted for permission to open talks.

Former New York Yankees Manager Lou Piniella says he would like the job as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, but Reds General Manager Bob Quinn declined today, through a spokesman, to say whether the team has contacted the Yankees for permission to talk to Piniella.

Piniella managed the Yankees in 1986, 1987 and part of the 1988 season. He is now under contract to the Yankees as a special adviser to owner George Steinbrenner. The contract pays Piniella a reported $400,000 for the next two years.

Former Yankees Manager Dallas Green, who replaced Piniella, withdrew his name Friday from consideration for the Reds’ managerial job. Quinn said he had personally interviewed Green and Reds Interim Manager Tommy Helms and planned to interview at least two more candidates.

Quinn has said he considers former Houston Manager Hal Lanier and ex-Cleveland managers Pat Corrales and Doc Edwards to be among candidates for the Reds’ job.

Helms, 48, a Reds coach since October, 1982, finished the season as manager after Pete Rose was banned from baseball Aug. 24 for allegations that he gambled on baseball and football. The Reds fell to fifth place in the National League West this season after finishing second the four previous seasons. Cincinnati’s 75-87 record was its first losing mark since going 70-92 in 1984.

Piniella told The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story published today that he would be interested in becoming the Reds’ manager, but does not know whether Steinbrenner would allow the Reds to interview Piniella.

“Sure, I would like to have that job--definitely,” Piniella said.

In New York, Yankees spokesman Jeff Idelson said today he knew of no effort by the Reds to contact the Yankees regarding Piniella.