OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Oakland Athletics will interview former major league pitcher Orel Hershiser for their managerial opening.

A’s general manager Billy Beane will schedule a meeting with Hershiser, currently an ESPN baseball analyst, in Phoenix for sometime during the week of Nov. 6.

Beane fired fourth-year manager Ken Macha on Oct. 16, two days after Oakland’s season ended in a sweep by the wild-card Detroit Tigers in the AL championship series. The A’s won a playoff series for the first time since 1990, ending a string of four straight first-round exits from 2000-03.

Beane plans to take his time hiring the next manager and was still trading phone calls with Frank Thomas’ agent, Arn Tellem, on Wednesday about getting something done to keep the 38-year-old slugger. The Big Hurt, who led the team with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs, has a two-year offer on the table from the A’s.

The 48-year-old Hershiser went 204-150 during an 18-year playing career that included 13 seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, including his final year in 2000. He pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 1998.

Hershiser rejoined ESPN earlier this year. The former NL Cy Young Award winner was an analyst for ESPN and ABC during the Little League World Series from 2000-01 and was on ESPN’s major league Wednesday telecasts during 2001.

He joined the Texas Rangers in November 2001 as an associate to former general manager John Hart, became pitching coach in June 2002, then was shifted last November to executive assistant to team president Jeff Cogen. Hershiser left the Rangers in February.

Beane has had a preliminary phone conversation with Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black, who was expected to interview with the club soon. Black already interviewed with the San Francisco Giants about their managerial opening.

Oakland’s internal candidates who will have interviews are bench coach Bob Geren, a close personal friend of Beane, and third-base coach Ron Washington.

Washington also interviewed last week with the Texas Rangers about becoming Buck Showalter’s replacement. Washington and Geren both interviewed for the A’s opening a year ago when the club briefly cut ties with Macha before bringing him back about a week later. Geren was promoted from bullpen coach in 2006.

The 54-year-old Washington just completed his 11th season with the A’s and is popular with the players.

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