DePodesta Will Talk to Dodgers

New Dodger owner Frank McCourt’s search for a general manager will begin with a long name, not a big name. The Dodgers’ formal request to speak to Oakland assistant GM Paul DePodesta was granted on Thursday, and the 31-year-old A’s executive will interview for the Dodger job, probably within the next week.

DePodesta, who received strong endorsements from Oakland GM Billy Beane and A’s co-owner Steve Schott, is the only candidate the Dodgers have asked to interview so far.

Seattle consultant Pat Gillick, the former Mariner, Oriole and Blue Jay GM, is expected to be a leading candidate, but the Dodgers had not sought permission to speak to Gillick.

Oakland front-office executives have long touted DePodesta as one of the brightest young minds in the game. Beane, who has built the A’s into an American League West power on a limited budget, said DePodesta had been “as responsible for our success as I’ve been.”

DePodesta was offered the Toronto GM job two years ago but turned it down because he didn’t feel it was the right fit for his family.

McCourt said current Dodger GM Dan Evans would be a “legitimate candidate” for the job, but Evans’ chances of retaining the position appear slim.

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Chicago White Sox GM Ken Williams emphatically denied Chicago broadcast reports that trade talks between the White Sox and Dodgers, focusing on Chicago first basemen Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko and Dodger pitcher Odalis Perez, were heating up this week.

“We have never had what I would term serious discussions with the Dodgers for any of our players,” Williams said. “And I haven’t talked to them in the last three days.”

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Channel 9 has agreed to air 46 Angel games this season, six more than the contractually required minimum, sources said. The station could add dates later in the season.

The Angels have not abandoned efforts to persuade Fox Sports Net to add broadcasts beyond its minimum of 50. In addition, the team hopes to complete a Spanish-language television deal in which roughly 10 to 15 games not selected by Channel 9 or Fox would be broadcast. In all, including national broadcasts on Fox and ESPN, the Angels hope to air two-thirds of their regular-season games.

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Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.