The Boston Red Sox plan to begin interviewing candidates to fill their managerial vacancy on Friday, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.

The Red Sox are without a manager after firing Bobby Valentine at the conclusion of his only year with the club.

One of the interviews is expected to be with Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach, whom the team has recently contacted to gauge his interest, according to the Boston Herald,

As of early Wednesday afternoon, the Red Sox hadn't asked for permission to interview Blue Jays first base coach Tony Lovullo, Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux or White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing, according to Bradford.

The Red Sox's top target for the job is believed to be Blue Jays manager John Farrell, though the acquisition of Farrell would require the team send some kind of compensation to the Blue Jays. Farrell was Boston's pitching coach 2007-10.

Some have suggested Mike Lowell might be a managerial candidate for the Red Sox or the Marlins. But according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, Lowell isn't interested in joining the managerial ranks at this time.

And while Jason Varitek might have a future as the Red Sox manager, Heyman also writes that he is not being considered to fill the current vacancy.

The Red Sox finished 2012 with a 69-93 record, their first time under .500 since 1997 and their worst record since 1965.

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