BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox will interview David Wilder, the Chicago White Sox director of player development, today for their vacant general manager’s job.

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and president Larry Lucchino, along with other team officials, will meet with Wilder, who has been director of player development for the World Champion White Sox for two years, the team announced Friday.

In his current job, Wilder oversees Chicago’s entire minor league department and player development staff as well as the club’s Latin American operations.

Wilder began his player development career in the Oakland Athletics organization in 1990 after a seven-year minor league career as an outfielder in the Oakland and Chicago Cubs systems.

He was assistant director of scouting and player development for the Atlanta Braves from 1991-95; farm director and assistant general manager with the Cubs from 1996-99; and vice president of player personnel and special assignment scout with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000-03, before joining the White Sox in 2004.

He was also a member of the United States Olympic Baseball team’s selection committee in 2000, helping assemble the team that won the gold medal at the Sydney Games.

The Red Sox announced Thursday they invited Jim Beattie, former Orioles executive vice president, and Washington Nationals’ general manager Jim Bowden for second interviews, and planned to interview two other candidates. Boston is looking for a replacement for Theo Epstein, who left Oct. 31 after he and the team could not reach agreement on a new contract.

Red Sox add six to roster, release Kapler

Left-hander Jon Lester, Boston’s minor league pitcher of the year, was among six players the Red Sox added to their 40-man roster Friday. The team also released veteran outfielder Gabe Kapler.

In addition to Lester, right-handers Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia and David Pauley, and outfielders David Murphy and Brandon Moss.

Kapler was a backup outfielder with the Red Sox in 2004, and was the first player to leave the World Series champions when he signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants last November. After struggling in Japan, he re-signed with Boston in July. He hit .247 with one home run and nine RBIs in 36 games before he ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon while rounding second base on Tony Graffanino’s homer on Sept. 14.

Lester was 11-6 with an Eastern League-leading 2.61 ERA and 163 strikeouts for Double-A Portland last season.

Delgado went 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 33 relief appearances for Class A Greenville, while Garcia was 3-5 with six saves and a 2.01 ERA in 32 relief appearances for the Drive.

Pauley was 9-7 with a 3.81 ERA in 27 starts for Portland.

Murphy, a former first-round draft pick and the team’s minor league defensive player of the year, hit .275 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs for Portland. Moss hit .268 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Sea Dogs.

AP-ES-11-18-05 2214EST

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