Torre is talking to Dodgers

The Dodgers are in negotiations with former Yankees manager Joe Torre to become their next manager, two major league baseball officials said Monday.

The hiring of Torre probably would result in the firing of Grady Little, contradicting Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s end-of-the-season declaration that Little would be back in the spring.

A third major league official said that a deal between Torre and the Dodgers wasn’t imminent, something Torre himself seemed to hint at when appearing on CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman.”

“There’s nothing to any of it so far,” Torre said.

Torre’s agent, Maury Gostfrand, did not return messages left on his office and cell phones.

The Dodgers also remained silent on the status of their managerial position, as General Manager Ned Colletti didn’t return phone calls for a fifth day in a row. McCourt was also unavailable.

Little could also not be reached.

Little is under contract for next season, but his option for 2009 hasn’t been picked up. The team was 88-74 and won the National League wild card in his first season with the club in 2006.

But the Dodgers were 82-80 last season and finished fourth in the NL West in what Little said was the toughest year of his career because of tensions between the team’s veteran and young players.

“What’s been the most disappointing to me is that so many people, when things are going good, they’re fine,” Little said. “But then the very minute things turn sour, the real person comes out. That’s what disappointed me the most.”

McCourt stood behind Little and Colletti on the last day of the season, saying in a news conference that both would be back in 2008.

Asked why, McCourt pointed to what he called “core values” that he wanted to be the franchise’s foundation -- he listed hard work, trust, integrity, respect, unselfishness and teamwork.

“I think they share the values I talked about repeatedly,” McCourt said of Little and Colletti. “When we do have an opportunity to talk -- and we do talk as a group -- and we talk about the things I’m saying, I don’t get a blank look. These gentlemen believe in what I’ve just articulated. At the end of the day, it takes people who are committed to one goal, which is winning. I think they share the same values and the same goal.”

Torre and the Yankees parted ways Oct. 18 after Torre turned down an incentive-laden one-year, $5-million offer to return for his 13th season. The Yankees won four World Series titles and made the playoffs all 12 years he was the manager. He made $7.5 million last season.

The Yankees offered their managerial job on Monday to Joe Girardi, who reportedly had been approached by the Dodgers about a position with the club. The Dodgers were also quiet last week when asked about the reports linking them to Girardi.

A source told The Times that Girardi informed the Yankees that he had an offer for a current or future managing job with another team.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com