Epstein Keeps Dodgers on Hold

Theo Epstein has piqued the Dodgers’ interest enough that they probably will wait until he is ready to talk to them next week before deciding on a general manager.

In an attempt to explain his reasons for abruptly leaving the Boston Red Sox after three seasons, three playoff appearances and one World Series title, Epstein said Wednesday that another suitor had contacted him through an intermediary.

That team is the Dodgers, sources said.

Epstein, seeming every bit the tortured artist, said cryptically that “if we get to next week, that’d be a more appropriate time for me to listen to what other teams have to say.”

Until then he plans to stay around the Red Sox offices “helping with the transition.”

General manager meetings begin Monday in Palm Springs. The Dodgers hoped to have a new GM in place by then, but that is doubtful unless they abandon Epstein, 31, as a candidate.

And for now, he definitely is someone they covet, a highly placed source said, despite his glaring similarities to and close friendship with Paul DePodesta, whom Dodger owner Frank McCourt fired Saturday after two seasons.

The Dodgers are trying hard to keep the search secretive. Their only official comment came in the form of the following release:

“There are a number of highly qualified candidates for the GM position and no shortage of people who have expressed interest. While this will remain a confidential process, we are making considerable progress.”

Among those who have expressed interest in the job are former Cleveland and Texas GM John Hart, Washington GM Jim Bowden and White Sox special assistant Dennis Gilbert. Internal candidates could be assistant GM Kim Ng and vice president of player development Roy Smith.

The Dodgers want to hire Orel Hershiser -- the former star pitcher and current Texas pitching coach -- in some front-office capacity. Hershiser is very close to Hart, who hired him as an associate GM in 2002 with Texas. Hershiser also pitched for Cleveland when Hart was GM, helping the Indians to the World Series in 1995 and 1997.

The Dodgers also need a manager, and their top candidate is sending guardedly positive signals. Bobby Valentine, whose Dodger ties and friendship to Tom Lasorda are well-chronicled, said he considers the Dodgers his dream job. However, he is still managing the Chiba Lotte Marines, who won the Japan Series last week and are preparing for next week’s Asian Series.

The Marines have offered to extend Valentine’s contract to about $4 million a year, a figure that almost certainly is out of the Dodgers’ range.

McCourt said when he fired DePodesta that a manager won’t be hired until a GM is in place. He also said he wanted both positions filled quickly. Now, though, the Dodgers have paused to guess about Epstein’s intentions.

If he isn’t interested in the opening, why wouldn’t he just say so rather than string the Dodgers along for several days?

If he is interested, why would he risk them becoming impatient and hiring someone else this week?

The Dodgers already lost out on their first choice, Pat Gillick, and another candidate in whom they had interest, Gerry Hunsicker. Gillick took the GM job with Philadelphia and Hunsicker accepted a position with Tampa Bay as the No. 2 front-office person behind 28-year-old Andrew Friedman.