Angels Get Permission to Talk to Gaston

The Angels on Tuesday received permission from the Toronto Blue Jays to interview former Toronto Manager Cito Gaston, and Angel bench coach Joe Maddon was told by new General Manager Bill Stoneman that he also would be interviewed for the team’s managerial job.

Gaston, who guided the Blue Jays to World Series championships in 1992 and ‘93, interviewed for jobs in Cleveland and Milwaukee, but the Indians hired Charlie Manuel. Tuesday, Gaston, 55, told the Brewers he was no longer interested in that position because he felt it required “someone younger who was going to be there for a long time.”

With the New York Yankees having already granted the Angels permission to interview third base coach Willie Randolph and batting instructor Chris Chambliss, that brings to at least four the number of finalists to replace Terry Collins, who resigned by mutual consent on Sept. 3. Stoneman said he hoped to interview six candidates.

Gaston had a 681-635 record in nine years (1989-97) at Toronto, but after the back-to-back world championships, the Blue Jays were a sub-.500 team for four consecutive years, and Gaston was fired after the 1997 season. He was out of baseball for two years before being hired as Toronto’s batting instructor in October.

Maddon recently completed his 23rd year with the Angel organization, the last six of which have been on the major league level. In his third stint as the team’s interim manager, Maddon led the Angels to a 19-10 finish after Collins’ resignation, and he has a soothing, relaxed style the Angels seemed to respond to.

In other Angel-related developments, left-hander Chuck Finley filed for free agency Tuesday, but the Angels hope to complete a deal with him before Nov. 11, the last day of the period in which they hold exclusive negotiating rights to Finley.

Angel third-base coach Larry Bowa and pitching coach Dick Pole, whose contracts, along with those of other Angel coaches, expired Sunday, are scheduled to interview with the Seattle Mariners this week.