http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2618929
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Lou Piniella would prefer to be the one asking the questions, but this wasn't possible Monday, not with five major league teams in need of managers and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner reportedly about to fire Joe Torre at any moment.
The 63-year-old Piniella, who parted ways with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the 2005 season following three difficult years as manager, has had a preliminary conversation with the San Francisco Giants about their managerial opening and also spoken to the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.
And then there's the Yankees. Piniella hasn't heard from Steinbrenner and he doesn't have much to say about a possible return to the Bronx.
"We've always been friendly," Piniella said Monday. "No, we haven't talked at all about that. In fact, I haven't seen Mr. Steinbrenner in 10 months. Talk to my agent about these things."
The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Steinbrenner was ready to fire Torre after 11 seasons and insert Piniella as skipper. Piniella managed the Yankees from 1986-88, and "Sweet Lou" also spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year playing career in pinstripes.
Meanwhile, Piniella met with Washington general manager Jim Bowden but pretty much ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Frank Robinson.
"It went well. Jim's a personal friend," Piniella said. "They're a team that's going to be building for the future. That's a situation really that's not for a guy like me. I think they're going to go with a young manager, and rightfully so."
The Washington Post, citing a source with knowledge of the Nationals' search, said the club has interviewed 56-year-old Astros bench coach Cecil Cooper and 41-year-old White Sox third-base coach Joey Cora. The Nationals also asked for and were granted permission from the Yankees to speak with first-base coach Tony Pena, 49, who managed the Royals from 2002-05. Neither Cooper nor Cora have managerial experience at the major-league level.
The Yankees were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs Saturday for the second consecutive season. They lost to the Detroit Tigers in four games after winning Game 1.
"Look, I'm here to do baseball games," Piniella said. "I'm supposed to be doing the interviewing instead of being interviewed, for God's sake.
"I've said I would look at situations and that's exactly what we've been doing over this offseason."
San Francisco is looking for a manager to replace Felipe Alou, whose contract wasn't renewed after two straight losing seasons. The Giants have 11 potential free agents, including 42-year-old slugger Barry Bonds.
"The Giants, they're a good ballclub. We'll see what happens," Piniella said. "It's a great city, obviously. They've got an ownership group here that wants to win. Mr. [Peter] Magowan wants to win. [GM] Brian Sabean is a personal friend."
Piniella was asked whether he would be open to working for The Boss again in some capacity.
"In some capacity? What capacity are you talking about?" he said. "Look, I don't want to get into that subject. It's not right. I respect the situation too much for me to comment on anything else."
Piniella also hasn't spoken to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' embattled third baseman who is 4-for-41 (.098) without an RBI in his last 12 postseason games.
The two-time MVP went 1-for-14 against the Tigers and was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the first time in a decade Saturday, when the Yankees lost 8-3.
Piniella first managed A-Rod, who has said he wants to keep playing in pinstripes, in Seattle. What would he tell his former player?
"Have a good winter and relax, what else can you say?" Piniella said. "He said he wants to stay. That's a good sign."
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Lou Piniella would prefer to be the one asking the questions, but this wasn't possible Monday, not with five major league teams in need of managers and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner reportedly about to fire Joe Torre at any moment.
The 63-year-old Piniella, who parted ways with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the 2005 season following three difficult years as manager, has had a preliminary conversation with the San Francisco Giants about their managerial opening and also spoken to the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.
And then there's the Yankees. Piniella hasn't heard from Steinbrenner and he doesn't have much to say about a possible return to the Bronx.
"We've always been friendly," Piniella said Monday. "No, we haven't talked at all about that. In fact, I haven't seen Mr. Steinbrenner in 10 months. Talk to my agent about these things."
The New York Daily News reported Sunday that Steinbrenner was ready to fire Torre after 11 seasons and insert Piniella as skipper. Piniella managed the Yankees from 1986-88, and "Sweet Lou" also spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year playing career in pinstripes.
Meanwhile, Piniella met with Washington general manager Jim Bowden but pretty much ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Frank Robinson.
"It went well. Jim's a personal friend," Piniella said. "They're a team that's going to be building for the future. That's a situation really that's not for a guy like me. I think they're going to go with a young manager, and rightfully so."
The Washington Post, citing a source with knowledge of the Nationals' search, said the club has interviewed 56-year-old Astros bench coach Cecil Cooper and 41-year-old White Sox third-base coach Joey Cora. The Nationals also asked for and were granted permission from the Yankees to speak with first-base coach Tony Pena, 49, who managed the Royals from 2002-05. Neither Cooper nor Cora have managerial experience at the major-league level.
The Yankees were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs Saturday for the second consecutive season. They lost to the Detroit Tigers in four games after winning Game 1.
"Look, I'm here to do baseball games," Piniella said. "I'm supposed to be doing the interviewing instead of being interviewed, for God's sake.
"I've said I would look at situations and that's exactly what we've been doing over this offseason."
San Francisco is looking for a manager to replace Felipe Alou, whose contract wasn't renewed after two straight losing seasons. The Giants have 11 potential free agents, including 42-year-old slugger Barry Bonds.
"The Giants, they're a good ballclub. We'll see what happens," Piniella said. "It's a great city, obviously. They've got an ownership group here that wants to win. Mr. [Peter] Magowan wants to win. [GM] Brian Sabean is a personal friend."
Piniella was asked whether he would be open to working for The Boss again in some capacity.
"In some capacity? What capacity are you talking about?" he said. "Look, I don't want to get into that subject. It's not right. I respect the situation too much for me to comment on anything else."
Piniella also hasn't spoken to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' embattled third baseman who is 4-for-41 (.098) without an RBI in his last 12 postseason games.
The two-time MVP went 1-for-14 against the Tigers and was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the first time in a decade Saturday, when the Yankees lost 8-3.
Piniella first managed A-Rod, who has said he wants to keep playing in pinstripes, in Seattle. What would he tell his former player?
"Have a good winter and relax, what else can you say?" Piniella said. "He said he wants to stay. That's a good sign."