Jim Leyland's candidacy for the Pirates' managerial job could be a moot point by today.

And with Jim Tracy leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers last night, it is becoming more clear that he could be the Pirates' next manager anyway.

Leyland last night interviewed with Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski for the Tigers' managerial position that became vacant early yesterday morning when Dombrowski fired Alan Trammell, who had a season left on his contract.

"My gut says I have a legitimate shot," said Leyland, who has another interview with the Tigers at 10 a.m. today.

About 30 minutes after dismissing Trammell, Dombrowski called Leyland at his Pittsburgh home.

"Can you get in your car and drive up here?" Dombrowski asked.

Leyland said he could and was on the road shortly thereafter.

Leyland was scheduled to meet with Dombrowski at 6 p.m. at Comerica Park.

"I don't know if it's a sparring round or the real deal," Leyland said. "I have to assume it's serious."

Leyland played in Detroit's minor-league system for seven years before beginning an 11-year career as a manager in the Tigers' minor-league system.

He then joined the Chicago White Sox as their third base coach, where he first met Dombrowski, who was then in the White Sox's front office. The two would team up again with Florida, where Dombrowski was the general manager when Leyland guided the Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997.

Dombrowski interviewed Tigers coaches Bruce Fields (bench coach) and Juan Samuel (third base coach) for Trammell's job yesterday. With that done -- meeting Major League Baseball's minority interviewing mandate -- it could clear the way for Leyland being named the Tigers' new manager as early as today.

Trammell is scheduled to meet with the Detroit media today, so an announcement concerning Leyland's hire could be postponed a day.

Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield spoke with Leyland by phone yesterday about interviewing for the Pirates' managerial position.

"We spoke for a few moments," Leyland said. "I explained to him about Detroit and said, 'I'll see what goes on with this process.' "

Leyland promised to get back to Littlefield today "no matter what."

But what if Leyland by today has accepted an offer to manage the Tigers?

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Leyland said.

Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy was aware Leyland, who managed the Pirates from 1986-96, was in Detroit last night.

"It doesn't surprise me," McClatchy said.

Does McClatchy want Leyland to interview with the Pirates?

"Sure, if he's available," McClatchy said. "If he's not, then that's the way it is."

Littlefield, who yesterday flew to Atlanta to interview Braves' third base coach Fredi Gonzalez, confirmed last night that he talked to Leyland yesterday. Littlefield said he has asked the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom Leyland is a scout, for permission to interview Leyland.

That could happen tomorrow if Leyland's not the Tigers' manager by then.

Gonzalez, 41, and Littlefield worked together with the Florida Marlins. Gonzalez, born in Havana, Cuba, has 10 years of minor-league managing experience.

"He's a very capable guy," Littlefield said. "He's well respected in the industry.

Tracy could be the front-runner for the Pirates' job, especially if Leyland gets and accepts the Detroit position.

Tracy, who had a strong interview for the Pirates' job in 2000, has a year left on his Dodgers contract. But he has an "opt-out" clause in that contract which runs for seven days and began yesterday.

Tracy, who makes a guaranteed $700,000 per year, asked the Dodgers for a two-year extension on Sept. 8 -- two days after Lloyd McClendon was fired as the Pirate manager. That request still was on the table, but the Dodgers apparently didn't grant it.

In Oakland, Ken Macha, who also interviewed with the Pirates in 2000, and his agent, Alan Nero, are trying to negotiate a contract extension with the Athletics for the Murrysville resident.

Macha is believed to be on the Pirates' short "A" list of managerial candidate if he becomes available.

The Athletics have offered Macha a three-year contract that contains a moderate increase from Macha's current $620,000 salary. Macha and the Athletics hope the situation can be resolved by the end of the week.