Mackanin, Sveum Interviewed For Manager's Spot

The Red Sox have interviewed third base coach Dale Svuem and Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin for the vacant manager's spot. The team has also been given permission to interview Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux and Cleveland bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr.

Cubs GM Theo Epstein fired manager Mike Quade yesterday and is considering Sveum and Mackanin - and the Cubs have permission to speak with Maddux.

Mackanin, 60, was interviewed on Monday.

My qualities are my versatility, the fact I have a rounded-out career. I've been a scout, I've been an advanced scout, I've done major league coverage, I've been a major league player, a minor league player, a third-base coach, a bench coach, an outfield instructor, infield instructor, minor league coordinator ...

Mackanin was an interim manager twice, for the Pirates (2005) and the Reds (2007). He said the Sox interview was "an interesting little scenario ... basically going over strategy in games and things like that. A lot of good questions, a lot of different questions, a lot of outside-the-box questions and inside-the-box questions."

Sveum - the third base coach for 2004 and 2005 - was interviewed Wednesday. GM Ben Cherington:

We're looking at sort of the entire body of work, and in some ways, I think his experience as third-base coach is a benefit to him. He's been through some adversity in Boston, and a lot of our candidates won't have been through that. ... There's a lot of substance to his baseball thought process and how he goes about teaching the game, making decisions during the game. He's familiar with the city, familiar with some people in the organization. He's had a little bit of managerial experience in the big leagues, albeit brief ... He's got a lot of the qualities that we're looking for.

John Lackey underwent Tommy John surgery on November 1.

The Red Sox picked up Marco Scutaro's $6 million option for 2012 - Scutaro had the second best OBP among AL shortstops with 400+ PA (and 5th-best in MLB) - and declined the options for relief pitchers Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison.

There was talk about the Blue Jays possibly making a play for free agent David Ortiz, but Toronto has picked up Edwin Encarnacion's option and will likely use him as their DH.

Dustin Pedroia was named MLB's best fielding second baseman by The Fielding Bible. At first base, Adrian Gonzalez finished #2, close behind Albert Pujols. ... Ellsbury, Gonzalez, and Pedroia won Gold Gloves. It was Ellsbury's first GG, Pedroia's 2nd, and Gonzalez's 3rd. The last time Boston had multiple winners was in 1990. The Red Sox had three winners in 1968 and 1979.

Jacoby Ellsbury (CF), Gonzalez (1B) and Ortiz (DH) won Silver Sluggers as the best hitters at their respective positions. (Miguel Cabrera would have been a better choice at 1B than Bert.)

The Yankees committed a minimum of another $30 million to CC Sabathia to keep the hefty lefty off the free agent market this winter. Sabathia, who turns 32 next July, will paid $122 million over the next five years ($23 per for 2012-15 and $25 for 2016). The Yankees have a $25 option or $5 buyout for 2017.