Orioles’ Malone Interviews for Job

Dodger officials interviewed Kevin Malone of the Baltimore Orioles for their general manager position Friday.

Team President Bob Graziano, former owner Peter O’Malley, Tom Lasorda and other high-ranking members of the front office met throughout the day with the longtime major league executive at Dodger Stadium.

Malone, the Orioles’ assistant general manager, is the fifth candidate to officially interview to succeed Lasorda, the interim general manager.

The Dodgers were impressed by Malone, who is considered among the game’s most respected and fair decision makers. And Malone was impressed by them.

“This is a great opportunity,” he said. “They’ve got a great tradition of success here.

“The history and tradition here . . . I’m just glad I’m in the running.”

The Dodgers also have interviewed Dean Taylor, assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves; Cincinnati General Manager Jim Bowden; Florida General Manager Dave Dombrowski; and Bob Watson, former general manager of the New York Yankees. Omar Minaya, assistant general manager of the New York Mets, is scheduled to interview Sunday, and Gary Hughes, the Marlins’ vice president of player personnel, is scheduled to interview Tuesday.

Malone helped build successful teams with the Montreal Expos. He served as the Expos’ general manager from 1994-95 and was their director of scouting before that.

Malone, 40, is in his third season as the Orioles’ assistant general manager. He is believed to be among the leading candidates to succeed Baltimore General Manager Pat Gillick if owner Peter Angelos shakes up his management team during the off-season.

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Right-hander Ismael Valdes will return to the starting rotation next week, Manager Glenn Hoffman said.

Valdes has been sidelined for the last 29 games because of strained stomach muscles, but he has completed two rehabilitation starts without experiencing pain. Valdes will throw in the bullpen today and start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, if all goes well.

Hoffman said he plans to use a six-man starting rotation when Valdes returns, at least until the team’s scheduled day off Thursday. After that, a member of the group likely will move to the bullpen.

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Hoffman is hopeful that infielder Tripp Cromer can also be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Cromer has sat out the last 26 games because of a right quadriceps strain. He is completing a rehabilitation assignment at Class-A San Bernardino, and went two for three with a two-run home run in his first game Thursday.

Today

DODGERS’ BRIAN BOHANON (6-8, 2.74 ERA) vs. METS’ AL LEITER (12-5, 2.42 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 11. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Update--Bohanon has been the Dodgers’ most consistent starter during the last two months, but he doesn’t have much to show for his efforts. The left-hander is only 4-4 in nine starts with the team despite a 2.35 earned-run average. Leiter has the second-lowest ERA in the league.