HOUSTON (AP) – Larry Bowa is set to become third-base coach of the New York Yankees.

At the World Series as an ESPN analyst, Bowa said he’s spoken with both Yankees manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman. Before Bowa’s deal can be finalized, Cashman must decide whether to accept a new contract from New York – his current deal expires Oct. 31.

“Brian and I talked. We’re pretty much on the same page,” Bowa said Monday as the Houston Astros took batting practice. “Nothing’s been finalized.”

A former manager of the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies, Bowa said he’s prepared to work for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who doesn’t hesitate to second-guess his coaches,

“You’ll be on the hot seat. You don’t like it, don’t take the job,” Bowa said. “Everybody’s got a boss – I don’t mean that “The Boss.’ Everybody’s got a higher-up that you have to account for, and that’s the way it is.”

Bowa was a five-time All-Star as a player, and he managed San Diego in 1987 and 1988, and Philadelphia from 2001-4. He was a third-base coach for the Phillies (1988-96), the Angels (1997-99) and Seattle (2000). Luis Sojo has been the Yankees’ third-base coach for the past two seasons. He’s likely to get a different coaching assignment with the team.

Bowa thought the Yankees were worn out during their playoff loss to Los Angeles after a regular season in which they didn’t clinch a playoff berth until the next-to-last game.

“The Yankees had to fight all year to get in,” Bowa said. “When you’re fighting all year and fighting all year, it wears you out a little bit.”

AP-ES-10-24-05 2102EDT