FORT MYERS, Fla. — Batting third in the lineup of Red Sox managerial candidates was former Montreal manager Felipe Alou, who interviewed for the job Saturday.
Red Sox officials, who interviewed Grady Little and Mike Cubbage on Friday at their spring training camp, whisked Alou to an undisclosed location shortly after he arrived. No decision was expected until Monday.
Boston's new bosses — owner John Henry, president Larry Lucchino and interim general manager Mike Port — said there could be at least one more candidate, but no other interviews have been scheduled.
"Whoever comes over is fine, but there's no doubt that I have the experience of playing for Felipe," said Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez, who played for Alou in Montreal. "At that time, he proved to me that he could be the best manager in baseball."
Port put to rest concern that Alou, 66, has lost his desire to manage. Alou drove two hours Saturday morning from his home on Florida's east coast to Fort Myers and returned Saturday night.
"He's a solid baseball man. He's active. He's in good shape, as we know it, to manage again if he so desires, and he did express the desire to manage the Red Sox, that's why he was here," Port said.
Port refused to reveal the location of the interview, "in case we need to go there again," he said.
Next up could be Tom Kelly. The former Twins manager recently floated his name in the media and Red Sox brass might be interested, although they've not contacted Minnesota to seek permission for an interview.
Kelly, whose Twins won two World Series titles, currently works in Minnesota's front office. The Twins also hold training camp in Fort Myers.
"That could be the case," Port said when asked about contacting Kelly. "I don't want to be absolutely closing anything out at this point."
But if no more candidates pan out, the team still faces a difficult choice, Port said, because Alou, Cubbage and Little are excellent choices.