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Desert rumors

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- The baseball general manager meetings began today at a posh resort just a short ride down the Sonny Bono Memorial Highway from the Palm Springs airport.

Naturally, Theo Epstein's sudden departure was a prime topic of lobby conversation, and at least two baseball people came up to me this afternoon and asked if the rumors were true that Theo was coming back. Hey, given the bizarre circumstances under which he left, I suppose anything is possible, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The Gang of Four is here in Theo's absence, and like so many of their counterparts both Jed Hoyer and Peter Woodfork were busy working their cellphones. Josh Byrnes almost certainly would like to hire Woodfork as his assistant, but he won't get permission to talk to Woodfork until after the Sox resolve their GM hiring.

Hoyer IMO probably has the best shot of being the hire if Larry Lucchino stays in-house, but Woodfork by many accounts definitely has the smarts, personality and work ethic to one day sit in a GM's chair.

The GMs will spend much of their afternoon going over the list of arbitration-eligible players, so it may be quiet the rest of the afternoon.

Larry Lucchino, who had indicated over the weekend that he might be releasing the name or names of a prospective candidate today, said because of travel issues that annoucement may not come until tomorrow.

Tigers assistant GM Al Avila, who has interviewed for four jobs, including Arizona, and worked for John Henry in Florida, would seem to be a logical candidate. Ruben Amaro Jr., an assistant in Philly, when asked today whether he'd be interested said, "Of course."