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MIAMI -- The Baltimore Orioles asked the Yankees for permission to talk to Lee Mazzilli about their vacant manager's job, and New York granted permission Thursday.

Mazzilli is in his fourth season as the Yankees' first base and outfield coach. The request by the Orioles was disclosed by a Yankees official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, Orioles coaches Sam Perlozzo and Rick Dempsey, and former second baseman Rich Dauer already have interviewed for the job.

Mike Hargrove was fired by Baltimore on Sept. 29 after four seasons, all fourth-place finishes in the AL East.

Mazzilli, 48, was selected by the New York Mets on the first round of the 1973 amateur draft and spent 14 seasons in the major leagues with the Mets, Rangers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays. He was part of the Mets team that beat Boston in the 1986 World Series.

Mazzilli finished with a .259 batting average, 93 homers and 460 RBI, retiring after the 1989 season.

He managed the Class-A Tampa Yankees in 1997 and 1998, then moved up to Double-A Norwich the following year before joining the major league coaching staff.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press