Acta, Renteria candidates to be Cubs skipper

MESA, Ariz. -- Former Indians manager Manny Acta and Padres bench coach Rick Renteria are the latest candidates added to the list for the Cubs' managerial vacancy. The team also may find out soon if Joe Girardi is available.

Acta, 44, met Monday with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and assistant general manager Randy Bush.

"I'm sure they have more people to talk to ... so we'll just let the process play out," Acta told the Chicago Tribune.

One of those people they're waiting to talk to includes Girardi, who is contemplating the latest contract extension offer from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the Cubs expect to hear by Tuesday whether Girardi will be available.

Girardi played for the Cubs, grew up in downstate Peoria, Ill., and attended Northwestern. But he's also pointed out that he's made a home in Westchester County, N.Y., and his children are involved in the schools there. His Midwest ties aren't as strong as they were in the past. Girardi is under contract with the Yankees through Oct. 31.

Acta managed the Nationals (2007-09) and Indians (2010-12), and was dismissed from both jobs.

Renteria, 51, managed four seasons in the Padres' Minor League system before joining the big league staff as a bench coach. He also managed Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He played parts of five seasons with the Pirates, Mariners and Marlins, and has managed in the Marlins and Padres organizations.

The Cubs also have talked to former D-backs manager A.J. Hinch, 39, who is now in the Padres' front office, involved with player development. Hoyer is familiar with both Renteria and Hinch from his time as the Padres' general manager.

The Cubs have not asked for permission to talk to Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, who was interviewed for the manager's job prior to 2012.

Epstein, who was scheduled to be in Arizona on Tuesday to watch the start of the Arizona Fall League and see some of the young players in instructional league, said the Cubs hope to have a manager in place before the General Manager Meetings Nov. 11-13. The search began after Dale Sveum was dismissed one week ago following a last-place finish in his second season as manager.