Where will Lou end up?

Now that's Lou's departure from the Rays is official, here's hoping he doesn't come to LA. Can't see him working for the McCourts and DePodesta, anyway, but nonetheless wouldn't like him at the Ravine. Marlins are an obvious fit, unless they take a less-expensive route with Joe Girardi. Yanks, of course, are a definite possibility, should Torre retire or get the boot. In any Yankee scenario over the next month--win the Series, get KO'd along way in playoffs, or miss postseason entirely--I could see Torre departing, and Lou would become candidate number one, obviously. Unless, that is, there is something in his buyout that precludes taking the job with the Yankees.

Pittsburgh would seem to be Leyland's if he wants it, and I doubt the Nats could pay the big bucks Lou would command until they finalize the ownership situation. Lou is too intelligent to get involved in the Oriole mess, I believe--even the Dodgers would be preferable. Rumors are flying in the bay area that Ken Macha might be let go in Oakland, and that would be a tremendous fit for Lou, but I wonder if new owner Lew Wulff wants to pay that much for a skipper (though it might help their push for a new ballpark somewhere up there). If Alan Trammell really is in trouble at Detroit, that is another possibility, though rumors of a caustic clubhouse could turn even worse with the volatile Lou around, and would he really want another tour of duty in the midwest after being spoiled in the nicest time of the year in beautiful Seattle, and his hometown Tampa, lately?

Phils fans might hope that Lou just sits for a while, and wait for Ed Wade and Manuel to bring Phillies down with them next season, then make a move for Piniella.

Let's drop that rumor in Angelo Cataldi's lap at WIP...