Dodgers Identify Candidate

Owner Frank McCourt plans to take an active role in the selection of the next Dodger manager, although he wouldn’t say whether he would participate in the interviews with five candidates beginning today.

Ron Wotus, the San Francisco Giant bench coach, was announced Monday as the fifth candidate, joining Dodger minor league staffers Terry Collins and Jerry Royster, recently fired Detroit Tiger manager Alan Trammell and Cleveland Indian minor league manager Torey Lovullo.

“I’m keenly interested,” McCourt said. “The next manager of the Dodgers is a very, very important decision.

“We are committed to building a sustainable winner here, so of course I’m going to be very much involved in this decision.”

General Manager Paul DePodesta will spearhead the interviews, meeting with Royster today, Trammell on Wednesday, Wotus on Thursday, Collins on Friday and Lovullo on Saturday.

“The new manager is my decision,” DePodesta said last week before leaving for Italy to attend his sister’s wedding. He returns to work today.

“I’ll consult with Frank,” he said. “Ultimately, it will be my call.”

DePodesta began compiling a list of candidates long before the Dodgers parted ways with Jim Tracy a week ago because he recognized that Tracy might elect to leave after the 2005 season.

“Even going back to last year, when I offered to put the out clause in Jim’s contract, it was something I had to think about,” DePodesta said.

DePodesta has a secondary list that he said is deep and strong. It is unknown whether that list contains candidates with more major league managerial experience than the initial five.

Wotus has been the Giant bench coach since 1998, serving under Felipe Alou and Dusty Baker. He was third base coach in 1997 and a minor league manager in the Giant system from 1990 to 1996, compiling a record of 555-411 and reaching the playoffs six times.

Giant General Manager Brian Sabean said recently that Wotus would make a good manager. Wotus is the only candidate besides Lovullo who has not managed in the majors, but he probably knows the National League West Division better than the other candidates.

Tracy, meanwhile, was interviewed by Pittsburgh General Manager Dave Littlefield on Monday in Houston. The job is expected to go to Tracy or former Oakland manager Ken Macha, who interviewed Sunday.