FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cleveland bench coach Grady Little, optimistic about becoming manager of the Boston Red Sox, got a boost when another candidate was taken out of the running.
The Red Sox were denied permission Thursday by the Oakland A's to interview bench coach Ken Macha, who managed four seasons in the Boston system, The Boston Globe reported Friday.
The Indians already had allowed Little to talk with the Red Sox and gave him an enthusiastic endorsement to succeed Joe Kerrigan, who was fired Tuesday. Little was expected to be interviewed Friday.
At least four candidates are expected to be interviewed, a process beginning Friday and most likely to carry over to Saturday, team owner John Henry said Thursday.
Interim manager Mike Cubbage, Boston's third-base coach, said he was told by interim general manager Mike Port that he would be considered for the permanent job.
Henry said he hoped several candidates could be interviewed in the same day and that two minority candidates were under consideration.
Former Montreal manager Felipe Alou and Houston third-base coach Tony Pena have been mentioned in that context, but Pena said he hadn't been contacted by the Red Sox. He accompanied the Astros on Friday to their game in Baseball City against Kansas City.
New York Yankees coach Willie Randolph, who rejected an offer to manage Cincinnati this season apparently won't be part of that group since he doesn't have managing experience in the majors or minors, a prerequisite the Red Sox have set.
Former major league managers Jim Fregosi and Buck Showalter also have been mentioned as possible candidates.
Little wasn't in Kissimmee for the Indians game Thursday against Atlanta even though he was listed on the team's traveling squad.
"He feels good about his chances," Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel said. "I don't want to lose him but, at the same time, it's great for Grady."
With opening day just 24 days away, the A's reportedly were unwilling to risk losing Macha. They've already lost J.P. Ricciardi, who went to Toronto as general manager, and Grady Fuson, who went to Texas as an aide to general manager John Hart.
The Red Sox want to hire a manager as soon as possible, Henry said, but a decision before Sunday "would be pushing it."
Since taking over the team Feb. 27, Henry and president Larry Lucchino have been busy considering staff changes. The next day general manager Dan Duquette was fired.