BOSTON -- Mike Flanagan was interviewed for a second day Tuesday as Boston's wide search for a general manager turned to the former Cy Young award winner.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said he had reservations about Flanagan's lack of management experience, but said the pitcher "is off the charts with respect to other standards."

Flanagan is one of at least seven candidates who have been identified publicly. Lucchino said he also would consider Flanagan for another front office job.

The former Baltimore pitcher and current broadcaster is a special adviser to owner Peter Angelos and his baseball staff. Angelos has met with Flanagan about the job of Orioles vice president of baseball operations.

Lucchino said the Red Sox probably will pick a general manager by the end of November.

Boston interim GM Mike Port remains a candidate and will travel to Tucson, Ariz., on Friday to represent the Red Sox at the general managers' meetings beginning Saturday.

Port got the job when Dan Duquette was fired in spring training, and Lucchino isn't rushing to complete his search. He also said he hopes Port stays with the team if he isn't chosen as the GM.

"I'm not concerned about the passage of time," Lucchino said. "If I thought we were skipping a beat or missing a task, then I would feel differently."

He cited Boston's re-signing of lefty reliever Alan Embree to a two-year contract Tuesday as an indication that "the business of baseball is going forward."

Lucchino planned other interviews by phone or in person and hopes to end the first stage of the process by Saturday. Then, he said, "a handful" of finalists would be chosen.

Candidates already interviewed include Philadelphia assistant GM Mike Arbuckle, New York Mets assistant GM Jim Duquette, Cincinnati director of player personnel Leland Maddox, former Chicago White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, and Port's special assistant, Lee Thomas. Duquette is Dan Duquette's cousin.

"I don't rule out some sort of last-minute candidate emerging but I don't see that as likely," Lucchino said.

He hasn't received a formal response from Oakland management to his request to interview A's GM Billy Beane. Oakland owner Steve Schott recently gave Beane a contract extension through 2008.

Lucchino said no candidates told him they were discouraged by his powerful role as the team's chief executive officer.

"I don't believe it to be fair and accurate," he said of speculation that might be an obstacle. "There are certainly a number of active CEOs in baseball, and I'm one of them."

Flanagan, 50, is a native of nearby Manchester, N.H., who pitched in the majors from 1975-92. He spent all that time with Baltimore except for three-plus seasons with Toronto from 1987-90.

He won the AL Cy Young award in 1979 when he was 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA and a career-high 190 strikeouts. His career record was 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA.

Port became general manager of the California Angels in September 1984 and left the team in 1991. He joined the Red Sox as assistant general manager in 1993.

He said the team's search for a replacement is only an occasional distraction.

"Early on, I made a decision since I do not control the process, I would not be controlled by it," he said. "Right now, my focus is on the Red Sox and I'm trying to do my best to be respectful of the process."

Asked if he had been asked to find potential GM candidates, he answered succinctly.

"I found myself," he said with a smile.