ST. LOUIS (AP) - Former St. Louis catcher Mike Matheny is the third person to interview for the Cardinals' managerial opening since Tony La Russa retired following the team's World Series championship.
A person with knowledge of the search told The Associated Press of Matheny's interview. The person spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't publicly discussed the search.
All three candidates have organizational ties. White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing played for the Cardinals, and Chris Maloney has managed their Triple-A Memphis affiliate the last five years.
Longtime Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo also is believed to be on the list of candidates.
No more interviews were planned until Tuesday. The Cardinals hope to find a successor to La Russa, who resigned on Monday, in the next few weeks.
The Cardinals received permission from the Phillies to interview Ryne Sandberg and ex-Red Sox manager Terry Francona is expected to get a close look. Sandberg managed the Phillies' Triple-A team last season and was ruled out earlier this week for the Cubs' opening.
The 40-year-old Matheny is a minor league instructor with the Cardinals with no managing experience. He played for St. Louis from 2000-04 and won three Gold Gloves. He won another with San Francisco.
Matheny's career blossomed after he signed a one-year free-agent deal to be the backup catcher in St. Louis. A career .239 hitter, Matheny did enough defensively to earn a starting job.