01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Boston Red Sox interviewed Jim Bowden for a second time for their general manager's job yesterday, but no decision was imminent in the team's search to replace Theo Epstein.

Bowden, GM of the Washington Nationals and former GM for the Cincinnati Reds, met with Red Sox officials in Boston. The Red Sox also conducted a second interview during the weekend with Jim Beattie, former Baltimore Orioles executive vice president.

The Red Sox said more interviews will be held with a break for the Thanksgiving holiday. Boston would like a new GM in place before baseball's winter meetings Dec. 5-8 in Dallas.

Boston also interviewed Dave Wilder on Saturday. He's been the director of player development the past two seasons for the Chicago White Sox, who won the World Series last month.

Wilder met with Red Sox part-owner Tom Werner and president and chief executive officer Larry Lucchino, along with other members of the baseball operations staff.

ROUNDUP ROSE STILL ON OUTS: The Hall of Fame's doors will remain shut to Pete Rose, who won't appear on the baseball writers' ballot in his final year of eligibility. Commissioner Bud Selig will not rule on Rose's application for reinstatement before the 2006 ballot is released Nov. 29, according to Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. Rose, who last year admitted he did bet on the Cincinnati Reds while managing the team in the late 1980s, doesn't understand why the rules, unless changed, won't allow him to ever appear on the annual ballot of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "How can I be on a list that expires after 15 years if I'm suspended?" Rose said Sunday in comments relayed to The Associated Press through his manager, Warren Greene. "It should be that time stops." Rose, baseball's career hits leader, agreed to a lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation of his gambling, and the Hall's board of directors decided unanimously in February 2001 that anyone on the permanently ineligible list couldn't appear on the BBWAA ballot.

A CATCH FOR MARINERS: Catcher Kenji Jojima and the Seattle Mariners agreed yesterday to a $16.5 million, three-year contract. Jojima will be the first Japanese catcher to play in the major leagues. He visited Seattle Nov. 11-14 and met with Mariners executives. He also toured the city to assess its suitability for his family.

PIRATES DEAL HILL: Infielder Bobby Hill, acquired by Pittsburgh from the Cubs in the 2003 trade for third baseman Aramis Ramirez, was dealt yesterday to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named. The Pirates removed Hill from their 40-man roster over the weekend and had 10 days to trade or release him.

RAYS NAME COACHES: Former major leaguers Mike Butcher and George Hendrick joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays yesterday as part of new manager Joe Maddon's coaching staff for next season. Butcher was hired as pitching coach after spending the past three seasons as a roving pitching instructor for the Los Angeles Angels. Hendrick, the Dodgers' minor league hitting coordinator in 2005, was hired as first base coach.

XM INKS JETER: XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., the biggest U.S. pay-radio service, signed New York Yankees shortstop and captain Derek Jeter to an endorsement contract. The deal includes a partnership with the Turn 2 Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Jeter to promote health and academic achievement for teenagers. Jeter will appear on XM's MLB channel and participate in retail promotions, the company said. Financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.

LEGENDS UP FOR INDUCTION: Buck O'Neil, a player and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs, and Minnie Minoso, who played for the New York Cubans, are among 39 candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame selected by a committee reviewing the history of blacks in the sport. O'Neil managed the Monarchs to four Negro League championships and became the first black coach in Major League Baseball when he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1962. Minoso won a championship with the Cubans and started two Negro League All-Star games at third base before a 17-year major-league career.

YOUNG JOINS PADRES: Eric Young agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres yesterday, two weeks after the team declined to exercise the utilityman's option for next year. The Padres declined Young's $850,000 option on Nov. 8, giving him a $150,000 buyout, which the sides took into account when negotiating his new deal. The 38-year-old Young hit .275 last season with two homers, nine doubles, seven steals and 22 runs in 56 games. He can start earning performance bonuses at 200 plate appearances.

METS COURTING WAGNER: Billy Wagner started his two-day tour of New York with the Mets yesterday by having lunch in Connecticut with Jeff Wilpon, the son of the team's owner. The free-agent closer toured the suburbs, where most of the Mets' players live. He was to have dinner in the evening in New York City with Wilpon, the team's chief operating officer, and general manager Omar Minaya. Philadelphia wants to re-sign Wagner, a 34-year-old left-hander who throws 100 mph. He was 4-3 with a 1.51 E.R.A. last season.

ALL IN GOOD TIME: The Dodgers' search for a new manager will probably take a while. New general manager Ned Colletti said yesterday that while he hadn't formally requested permission from other teams to speak with potential candidates currently under contract, he would do so shortly.