Dodgers Have Made Their Shopping List

The Dodgers began their second managerial search in two years Monday, hoping to complete the process this month.

President Bob Graziano and General Manager Kevin Malone are leading the search for only the Dodgers’ sixth manager since 1954--but fourth since the middle of the 1996 season--after firing Davey Johnson on Sept. 29.

Graziano and Malone, who also handled the ’98 search, prepared their list of candidates and began scheduling interviews.

They will make recommendations to Chairman Bob Daly, who will make the decision. Daly said the new manager must be able to coexist with Malone, whose disastrous two-year partnership with Johnson contributed to the latest managerial change.

“We did start the process [Monday] morning, and we have every intention of keeping the process confidential as we move forward,” Graziano said. “We just feel that not commenting every step of the way will make this a better process, and a more efficient process.

“We think that’s the best way to make this work for everyone involved. My guess is that everything could be completed in two or three weeks, but we won’t know until we get further along in the process.”

Graziano declined to reveal whom the Dodgers are targeting to succeed Johnson, but baseball sources said that Rick Down, Glenn Hoffman and Jim Tracy, members of Johnson’s coaching staff, are on the list.

The club also plans to request permission to speak with coaches Willie Randolph and Chris Chambliss of the New York Yankees. As of Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies had sought permission to interview Randolph, and the Arizona Diamondbacks had spoken with the Yankees about Chambliss.

Under industry policy, the Dodgers are required to interview minority candidates. Randolph, a third base coach, and Chambliss, a batting instructor, are black, as is respected San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker.

Baker is expected to be selected the National League’s manager of the year for the third time after leading the Giants to baseball’s best record.

Baker’s contract expired after the Giants lost to the New York Mets in the division series, and several teams, including the Dodgers, are interested in speaking with him about their vacancies.

The Dodgers acknowledge that Baker would be their top choice if they were convinced he wanted the job, which they’re not.

Where does Baker stand?

“We spoke with [San Francisco General Manager] Brian [Sabean] today and we’re formally involved in discussions,” said Baker’s representative, Jeff Moorad.

“At this point, we’re going to stay focused on San Francisco and spent whatever time is required to determine if a contract can be put together there.”

Graziano and Malone are reluctant to court Baker because of their bad experience with Felipe Alou in 1998.

After Graziano and Malone pursued him aggressively, meeting with Alou in the Dominican Republic and at his home in Florida, Alou rejected the Dodgers’ multimillion offer to remain with the Montreal Expos.

The Dodgers also were twice rebuffed in their attempts to persuade Jim Leyland to apply for the position, creating a negative perception about the Dodger job. And the position is considered even less attractive now because of the Malone-Johnson situation and the club’s roster and payroll problems.