Dodgers Won’t Get Chance at Beane

Oakland co-owner Steve Schott knocked A’s General Manager Billy Beane out of contention for the Dodger general manager job Wednesday, but both Schott and Beane launched a campaign on behalf of A’s assistant GM Paul DePodesta.

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Schott acknowledged that new Dodger owner Frank McCourt called him this week about Beane, despite Schott’s assertion last Thursday that he would not grant the Dodgers permission to interview Beane for their GM job.

McCourt persisted in his pursuit of Beane, the highly regarded executive who has helped build the A’s into an American League West power despite severe financial restrictions, but he was again rebuffed by Schott, who said Wednesday that he denied McCourt’s request.

Asked if Beane would remain the Oakland general manager through 2004, Schott said, “Absolutely. That’s a dead issue.”

But in his discussions with McCourt, Schott recommended DePodesta for the Dodger job, and Beane gave his 30-year-old assistant a ringing endorsement in interviews with The Times and the Chronicle.

“If they decide to make a change, they couldn’t find anyone better than Paul DePodesta,” Beane said. “Their ownership probably wouldn’t have to hire another GM again. He’d be absolutely spectacular.... If he was a stock, I’d buy him. He’s as responsible for our success as I’ve been.”

As of Wednesday, the Dodgers had not made a formal request to interview DePodesta, but they are expected to. According to a Dodger source, the GM search “hasn’t really started yet,” because McCourt has been focusing on completing his $430-million purchase of the team, which is expected to officially close early next week, and other pressing front-office issues.

The Dodgers are expected to make a strong run at Pat Gillick, the former Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle GM who is working as a consultant for new Mariner GM Bill Bavasi. But as of Wednesday night, the Dodgers hadn’t contacted Gillick.

Gordon Blakeley, the New York Yankees’ senior vice president of baseball operations and a former All-American at Chapman University in Orange, has also expressed interest in the job, though the Dodgers haven’t sought permission to speak to him.

If McCourt can’t land the big-name, experienced executive he was hoping for -- and with spring training two weeks away, it’s doubtful many clubs would grant the Dodgers permission to interview their GMs -- he could opt for an up-and-coming candidate to replace Dan Evans, whose chances of retaining his position appear slim.

DePodesta could head a list of highly regarded assistants that includes San Francisco’s Ned Colletti and Houston’s Tim Purpura. DePodesta, who graduated cum laude from Harvard University, spent three years in the Cleveland organization before joining the A’s in November 1998.

He was offered the Toronto job two years ago but turned it down because he didn’t feel it was the right fit for his family, but he is believed to be interested in the Dodger job.

Jim Bowden, who was in his 11th season as the Cincinnati Reds’ GM when he was fired last year, also confirmed his interest in the job, saying he called senior vice president Tommy Lasorda about the position, but the Dodgers had not contacted Bowden.