BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox plan to meet Monday with Texas coach DeMarlo Hale, the fourth person to be interviewed for their managerial vacancy.

Hale, who played and managed in the Red Sox system, has been first-base coach for the Rangers the past two seasons and hasn’t managed in the majors.

The Red Sox initially said they hoped to find a successor to Grady Little by the end of November, but later said they would try to finish before baseball’s winter meetings begin Dec. 12 in New Orleans.

On Wednesday, former Philadelphia Phillies manager Terry Francona was interviewed in Boston for a second time. He also met with Red Sox owner John Henry the night before in Florida.

The Red Sox also have interviewed Los Angeles third-base coach Glenn Hoffman and Anaheim bench coach Joe Maddon. Anaheim pitching coach Bud Black declined a request to be interviewed.

Hale, 42, managed Texas’ Triple-A team in Oklahoma City in 2000 and 2001 before joining the Rangers. His first managing job was with Fort Lauderdale in 1993, the beginning of a seven-year stint in Boston’s organization.

In the three seasons before going to Oklahoma City, he managed Boston’s Double-A team in Trenton.

The Red Sox claimed pitchers Edwin Almonte and Phil Seibel off waivers from the New York Mets on Thursday. Boston also agreed to terms with lefty Tim Hamulack, who spent last season in the Seattle organization.

Almonte, 26, was acquired by the Mets from the White Sox on July 1 in a trade that sent Roberto Alomar to Chicago.

Almonte made his major league debut with the Mets, going 0-0 with an 11.12 ERA in 11 1-3 innings. In 240 minor league appearances, he is 22-30 with 89 saves and a 3.10 ERA.

Seibel was 27-23 with a 4.06 ERA in 85 games in three minor league seasons in the Montreal Expos and Mets organizations. Hamulack is 22-14 with 20 saves and a 3.31 ERA in 291 career appearances over eight minor league seasons.

AP-ES-11-20-03 1806EST