Bavasi May Interview With Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles received permission Thursday night to interview Bill Bavasi, the Dodgers’ director of player development, for the Orioles’ general manager job. Bavasi said he plans to discuss the opportunity with his family before responding to Baltimore’s request by today.

As the Angels’ farm director in the early 1990s and their general manager from 1994-99, Bavasi was responsible for drafting and developing many of the core players on the team that won the World Series over the San Francisco Giants last month.

Unwilling to yield to former Angel President Tony Tavares’ demand to break up that nucleus of players -- which underachieved during an abysmal 1999 season -- Bavasi resigned by mutual consent in late September 1999 and took a job in the Dodgers’ front office.

Bavasi would be the eighth candidate to replace current Oriole GM Syd Thrift, who is expected to be bumped to a scouting position. Mike Flanagan, an Oriole broadcaster and a former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the team, is considered the leading candidate.

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The Dodgers agreed to terms on a minor league contract with first baseman Larry Barnes, a former Angel who, if he makes the team, could push Eric Karros for playing time.

Barnes, 28, batted .314 with 20 home runs and 95 runs batted in for triple-A Salt Lake in 2002. A left-handed batter and a smooth defensive player, Barnes appeared in 14 games for the Angels, hitting one homer and knocking in two runs.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

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The Seattle Mariners signed designated hitter Edgar Martinez to a one-year contract, a day after declining a $10-million option on him. Martinez will make about $4 million next season, plus the $1-million buyout from his previous deal.... Cub General Manager Jim Hendry called Dusty Baker, one day after the San Francisco Giants announced Baker wouldn’t be returning as their manager, and set up a meeting for Monday or Tuesday of next week.