INSIDE BASEBALL

Ed Wade, general manager of the Houston Astros, is expected to take his time hiring a full-time replacement for fired manager Cecil Cooper. Former Astros greats Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio could get interviews, but the early front-runners are Boston Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar and former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta. . . . The San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers aren’t the only potential destinations for Milton Bradley. Tampa Bay also is on that list, but it’s hard to see a fit, as the Rays would look to dump underachieving designated hitter Pat Burrell on the Chicago Cubs. The Padres know Bradley from his previous stint with the club and might welcome him back, but only if the Cubs pay most of the $21 million left on his contract. The Cubs might ask for right-hander Chris Young in the deal, assuming the risk that he will bounce back from shoulder surgery in June. . . . Pitcher John Lackey is such a huge Dallas Cowboys fan that he is sharing a 20-year suite lease at the new Cowboys Stadium with a friend. It’s unlikely he will return to the Angels after he files for free agency in November. . . . Some baseball people believe the Chicago White Sox could have interest in the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano, possibly even for the newly acquired Jake Peavy. It would be a way for two teams without much money to spend to shake things up, but wouldn’t Peavy have more value than Zambrano at this point? . . . It has been a disappointing period for September call-ups, with few getting significant playing time. . . . Gary Sheffield says he’s going to train with boxer Winky Wright and cut his weight to about 210 pounds this winter, all with the goal of playing 150 games for somebody next season. “If I get 150 games, I can guarantee you 30 home runs,” he says.

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