CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry isn't going to rush his search for a new manager.

Hendry was to meet Tuesday night and Wednesday with Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Bob Melvin. No other interviews are scheduled, but Hendry said he doesn't have a deadline for hiring someone.

"I'm still looking for what I feel is the best man for the job,'' he said Tuesday. "There's no reason to get into the process of it until I meet with (Melvin). It's hard for me to tell you where I'm at.''

With a solid pitching staff and Fred McGriff and Moises Alou protecting Sammy Sosa, the Cubs were expected to challenge for the NL Central title this year. Instead, they lost 90-plus games for the third time in four seasons and got two managers fired.

Interim manager Bruce Kimm was let go Sept. 29, the last day of the regular season. Don Baylor was fired July 6.

"We're terribly disappointed in our season. It was unexpected,'' Hendry said after Kimm was fired. "We have to hire the right manager and make improvements personnel-wise.''

Since then, he's interviewed Ken Macha, bench coach for the Oakland Athletics; Fredi Gonzalez, manager of the Atlanta Braves Triple-A team; and Buck Showalter, former manager of the Yankees and Diamondbacks.

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark said Wednesday that the Cubs and Macha could wrap up negotiations by Thursday.

Showalter was hired by the Texas Rangers last week. Macha also has interviews with the Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Melvin interviewed with the Brewers.

While Hendry hasn't ruled out second interviews with the candidates, he doesn't have any currently scheduled. He also doesn't have any plans to interview anyone else.

"I'll kind of review that after I'm done with Bob,'' he said.

While Hendry doesn't have a timetable, the World Series begins Saturday and teams are not supposed to make major announcements during it.

"If I felt comfortable naming someone before it started, I would,'' Hendry said. "Otherwise, I'll have no problem abiding by the rules.''

Information from the Associated Press is included in this report