Braves' Moore out of the mix

Even as they try to attend to such pressing offseason business as making an offer to Johnny Damon, exploring Manny Ramirez trade possibilities, and expressing their interest in free agents such as B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett, the Red Sox encountered another setback yesterday in their search for a general manager.

Atlanta Braves assistant GM Dayton Moore, who had been asked by CEO Larry Lucchino to come to Boston this week for a second interview and was considered one of the strongest candidates, withdrew from consideration. Moore's decision came just hours before the Los Angeles Dodgers, the only other major league team looking for a general manager, announced the hiring of Ned Colletti, the assistant GM of the San Francisco Giants the last nine years.

With baseball's winter meetings in Dallas just three weeks away, it's conceivable that the Sox may elect to operate with some type of interim arrangement in which Bill Lajoie would work in tandem with the key members of the baseball operations staff who had served Theo Epstein.

Lucchino and team chairman Tom Werner said last week that they would like a GM in place by the winter meetings. And while reports persist that Epstein may be coming back, they are baseless, according to well-placed industry sources. Epstein met with Dodgers officials last weekend in Los Angeles but informed them he was not interested.

Meanwhile, the Sox are expected to make their opening offer to Damon in the next couple of days -- it's expected to be in the three-year, $25 million-$27 million range -- and are making their interest known in both Burnett and Ryan. The Sox, concerned about the age of their rotation and health issues involving Curt Schilling, also have interest in Kevin Millwood but will explore trade possibilities for a starting pitcher as well.

Damon said agent Scott Boras was told last week by a number of clubs that they were interested, but his comments reflected a preference to return here.

''I definitely owe Boston a lot," Damon said last night by phone from Florida. ''People know who I am now. Despite putting up good numbers over the years before Boston, people now know about it. People know your work.

''It's been an awesome experience, one we'll see in a couple of days, a couple weeks, if it's going to go on. The No. 1 thing is going out and winning. Boston still has a great foundation.

''It's just a matter of us starting to talk about numbers. If it doesn't work out, I know Boston is going to be OK."

The market for Ramirez still is focused on the Mets, as the Angels have signaled that they are not interested and intend to go in another direction -- i.e. Paul Konerko, according to sources familiar with conversations between the Red Sox and Angels.

Moore called the Red Sox yesterday afternoon and said he made his decision after meeting with Braves GM John Schuerholz. The decision, he said, ''was based on some of the things he and I talked about," and a reluctance to leave the Braves, the only organization he has worked for, or to uproot his family. One industry source familiar with Moore's situation said the Braves gave him more money and also may have promised him that he will succeed Schuerholz, 65.

Moore said he hoped Schuerholz ''does his job for the next 10 years and continues to do it well," then added: ''I've always trusted John. Based on some of the things we talked about today, I decided it was best I stay."

Moore is the third candidate contacted by the Red Sox who has withdrawn from consideration. Blue Jays player personnel head Tony LaCava and Indians assistant GM Chris Antonetti also declined interviews, leading to considerable speculation that candidates are gun-shy to work with Lucchino, whose relationship with Epstein disintegrated to the point that Epstein chose to leave.

Moore, unprompted, addressed that speculation.

''I've read where people were wondering about Larry Lucchino," he said. ''I can tell you I felt great chemistry with Larry Lucchino. There's no doubt in my mind that when they hire the next general manager of the Boston Red Sox, he will have a core group of people who are winners and will do everything they can to ensure the success of the next GM."

Moore's withdrawal leaves the Sox with just two candidates left of the first four that were interviewed, former Orioles vice president Jim Beattie and Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden. A third candidate, Twins assistant GM Wayne Krivsky, was told Sunday by Lucchino that he was no longer under consideration. Both Beattie and Bowden would appear to be long shots at this stage, though Beattie was said to have made a strong impression on Lucchino in his interview.

No other candidate has yet been identified, and no minority candidates have been interviewed, which is not in accordance with a directive from commissioner Bud Selig. Lucchino said the GM search will be suspended for the next couple of days as he attends the meeting of major league owners in Milwaukee.

His last knee surgery nearly cost him his life, which helps explain why Terry Francona's right knee replacement surgery, scheduled for last Friday, was postponed 10 days to next Monday.

Francona entered Massachusetts General Hospital last Wednesday, as scheduled, for two days of preoperative care. But the procedure itself was delayed because of an infection the Red Sox manager developed in his right ankle.

''I was in for two days, hooked up to the IV and everything," Francona said. To not continue, he added, was ''kind of a downer."

Francona traced the infection to an accident he suffered as he continues to move belongings into his recently purchased home in Brookline.

''My wife and I were moving furniture, and I dropped a filing cabinet on my ankle," said Francona, who in April will enter his third season as Sox manager. ''I crushed it. It became infected, and with my history of infection and blood clots, they didn't want to touch this."

Francona, 46, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery three years ago, and in the wake of that operation, a blot clot traveled to his lungs, causing what are known as pulmonary embolisms. He then developed staph infections in both knees.

Surgery was needed but was delayed, because he had been put on blood thinners to address the clotting. Francona required two surgeries on each knee to address the infections but still didn't feel like himself when he attempted walking. He asked to be looked at, and that evaluation landed him back in surgery, which led to the discovery of massive internal bleeding in his right thigh.

''I've got a lot of trepidation about this surgery," Francona said yesterday. ''And I've had a horrible history."

But he sees no choice.

''I'm sick of limping," he said. ''Not only can I not do my job, I can't live my life. I've got to get it done. I want to get it done as safely as possible."

The procedure will be performed by Dr. Dennis Burke, who will be joined by Sox physician Thomas Gill.

''It's nice to see people with expertise care," said Francona, who has been told to expect two to six weeks on crutches.