Picollo applies for Phillies' GM position

TORONTO -- Royals vice president/assistant general manager J.J. Picollo has interviewed for the vacant Phillies GM position, sources close to the situation told MLB.com.

Picollo was given permission to seek the job, and interviewed with Phillies president Andy MacPhail two weeks ago, per the source.

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Neither Picollo nor Royals GM Dayton Moore would comment on the matter.

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"It would be inappropriate for me to comment on another team's general manager position," Moore said before Game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre. "But I will say that I feel strongly that J.J. could lead and guide any organization very successfully."

MacPhail has said it would be ambitious to hire a new GM before the Phillies' organizational meetings, which begin next Monday, but the idea that an announcement could come next week should not be dismissed. Sources have told MLB.com that in addition to Picollo, the Phillies have interviewed Matt Klentak, Angels assistant GM; Matt Slater, the Cardinals' director of player personnel; and Larry Beinfest, former Marlins GM. CBSSports.com reported that Ross Atkins, the Indians' vice president of player personnel, also has interviewed.

Picollo, who oversees the Royals' player-personnel department, is a native of Philadelphia and has strong ties to the area.

When in Canada...: Right-hander Chris Young, whose wife is part of the famed Patrick hockey family, visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday morning.

"I took my wife this morning ... and youngest son," Young said. "There are four Patrick members in the Hall of Fame. I gave her a hard time, because I think in the past, she told me five. She stood corrected this morning.

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"It was a wonderful experience. It's an amazing place -- the tradition, the family history for her. It was fun for both of us to experience. I had been [there] before, she had been there as a child. ... She was able to take a picture next to the statue of her great-grandfather, and she saw her grandfather's name etched on the Stanley Cup.

"So it was a great experience for all of us, and certainly, I appreciate the hockey heritage that much more."

Adventures in travel: Speedster Terrance Gore had some passport issues and had to fly to Atlanta from Kansas City on Monday to resolve the problem, but he was able to arrive in Toronto prior to the game.