Padres Interview Five for Open GM Position

The Padres, after being turned down by general managers Andy MacPhail of the Minnesota Twins and Dave Dombroski of the Montreal Expos, have interviewed five candidates for their vacant vice president/baseball operations position, sources said Saturday.

The candidates, according to sources within and outside the Padre organization, are: Walt Jocketty, director of baseball administration of the Oakland Athletics; Bob Gebhard, vice president/player personnel of the Minnesota Twins; Dan Duquette, assistant general manager of the Montreal Expos; Gordon Ash, assistant general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays; and Roger Jongewaard, vice president/scouting and player development of the Minnesota Twins.

It is unknown whether the Padres have completed the first round of their interviewing process or still plan to talk with such executives as Larry Himes, formerly of the Chicago White Sox, and Ralph Nelson, vice president/assistant general manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Tal Smith, who’s helping the Padre ownership conduct the search, was at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Saturday night and refused to comment on the candidate search.