The search for a new Red Sox manager appears to be coming to a close, according to several news sources. But the team will not be making a decision on who will be Boston’s new manager this holiday weekend, according to The Boston Globe’s web site.

Similar news was reported Friday on mlb.sbnation.com. The web site also noted that Boston is currently the only team in the major leagues currently without a manager.

That’s because the Chicago Cubs hired Dale Sveum and the St. Louis Cardinals selected Mike Matheny to manage their teams.

The leading candidates for the job in Boston are reportedly Bobby Valentine and Gene Lamont, with Torey Lovullo also in the running.

Valentine previously managed the New York Mets and currently works as a baseball analyst for ESPN television.

Lovullo worked as the Blue Jays’ first-base coach this past season. Last year, he served as the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Lamont currently works as the Tigers’ third base coach. Previously, he managed the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Boston Red Sox named two new assistant General Managers on Tuesday.

But the search for a manager for the team continues.

Recent rumors have former New York Mets manager and current ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine as the leading candidate to replace Terry Francona. Valentine interviewed for the job on Monday in Boston.

Reportedly, there are two other leading candidates for managing the Red Sox: Torey Lovullo and Gene Lamont.

Lovullo worked as the Blue Jays’ first-base coach this past season. Last year, he served as the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Lamont currently works as the Tigers’ third base coach. Previously, he managed the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Personally, I think Valentine would be the perfect pick for the Red Sox. The reason? He managed a major league team in a town with some of the toughest fans in the brightest media spotlight. That’s one of the reasons why I think Francona did so well in New England. Before coming to Boston, Francona managed in Philadelphia, where the fans and the media can be just as unforgiving as Boston’s die-hard supporters and relentless critics.

Because whoever Boston hires to manage the team, you can be sure everyone in New England will have something to say, especially if the team starts – or finishes – the way they did this past season.

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are recalling right-hander Kyle Weiland from Triple-A to start in place of Jon Lester on Sunday and make his major league debut against the Baltimore Orioles.Weiland will become the ninth starter used this season by Boston, which has lost Daisuke Matsuzaka for the year with Tommy John surgery and has Lester and fellow starter Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.The 24-year-old Weiland has won his last three starts for Pawtucket and is 8-6 overall with a 3.00 ERA.”It’s his day. He’s lined up for it. He’s really been doing well,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Friday night’s game against the Orioles. “As much as kind of has gone wrong with some (of the team’s) health, this is the flip side where it’s really exciting. I’m kind of looking forward to it.”Alfredo Aceves, who pitched two quick innings of relief Thursday night, was considered, but Francona likes having him in the bullpen. Veteran Kevin Millwood, also at Pawtucket, was mentioned but Weiland got the nod.”This kid’s lined up and he’s been pretty hot,” the manager said. “I’d like to send him out there and see how he does.”Weiland, who was with Boston in spring training, has 99 strikeouts in 93 innings, with 18 coming in his last two outings. He has allowed four earned runs in 19 2-3 innings during his winning streak and opponents are batting just .206 against him for the season.”He throws hard,” Francona said. “He’s got a live arm – he always has. He’s starting to command, I think he’s competing and he’s just starting to mature as a pitcher.”A third-round draft pick in 2008 and the all-time saves leader at Notre Dame, Weiland was 15-21 in the minor leagues before this season.He will have to be added to the 40-man roster, but the Red Sox have an open spot after designating outfielder Mike Cameron for assignment and then trading him to the Florida Marlins.

BOSTON – Lost in the late inning drama of Saturday afternoon was another gem of a start by Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, as well as the fact that another one of his outings will end up classified in the ‘no-decision’ column.

The Boston righty went six-plus innings, allowed three runs on three hits, walked three and struck out four.

It marked the first time since April 27 that he has surrendered more than two runs in a contest, yet he now has six no-decisions in 12 starts.

“I do not have an arbitration case in February, so it doesn’t matter to me,” Beckett said. “It doesn’t matter to me who gets the win.”

Still, with a 2.01 ERA, having a 4-2 record appears to be a bit a disservice, and even with the three runs, Beckett pitched well enough to win Saturday.

Beckett threw four clean innings before coughing up a pair of runs in the fifth inning due to a bout of wildness. He hit the first batter, walked the next, allowed them to move to second and third on a wild pitch, and then surrendered a single to Josh Willingham that scored two.

In the seventh, he gave up a walk and a single to start before giving way to Matt Albers, who loaded the bases with a single and then gave up a sac fly to make it 5-3.

“He pitched great, he’s been pitching great,” catcher Jason Varitek said. “We have to find a way to win for him.”

Buchhed back: Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz could potentially have his scheduled start in New York Thursday pushed back if it’s found that he needs extra time to rest his tweaked back.

Buchholz threw 4 2/3 innings in a no decision Friday night against Oakland and said that the stiffness in his lower back was on his mind throughout the outing.

Francona said that he’ll sit down with the pitcher this weekend to determine if he’s able to make his scheduled start Wednesday in New York against the Yankees.

Tim Wakefield, who has a 4.25 ERA in five starts this season, threw a bullpen session Saturday and is inline to start Wednesday if Buchholz cannot go.

Scutaro goes south: Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro (strained left oblique) will join the Pawtucket Red Sox in Durham, where he will play shortstop, second base and designated hitter.

He is expected to rejoin the team in New York by Tuesday. When he returns, he will likely serve as a utility infielder since Jed Lowrie has cemented himself at short (.304, .349 on-base).

Short hops: Alfredo Aceves will move back to the bullpen with the return of John Lackey. Lackey is slated to throw around 90 pitches Sunday … Brett Anderson (3-5, 3.68 ERA), who will start against Lackey, is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox …

The Boston Red Sox placed pitcher Rich Hill on
the 15-day disabled list Friday with a left elbow sprain.

Hill, 31, has not allowed a run in eight innings over nine relief appearances
this season for the Red Sox. Hill has 12 strikeouts, while only allowing three
hits and three walks. Hill began the 2011 season with Triple-A Pawtucket of
the International League, where he went 1-0 with a 1.13 earned run average,
one save and 18 strikeouts.

To fill the roster spot, the Red Sox have selected the contract of left-hander
Tommy Hottovy from Pawtucket.

Hottovy, 29, has yet to appear in a major league game. The southpaw compiled
a 1.67 ERA with 28 strikeouts between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland this
season.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Hottovy, the Red Sox transferred
pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to the 60-day disabled list.

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Boston Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks worked the first inning Sunday in what is expected to be his second and final rehab appearance with the Pawtucket Red Sox, The Providence Journal reported.

Jenks, on Boston’s 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis since May 5, allowed a run in his only inning of work, but he threw hard—in the mid-90s, according to the stadium radar gun—and pain-free. He bought his teammates dinner from a local steak house and was gone before the game was finished.

“He’s fine. He got his pitches in, did what he was supposed to do and headed out of here,” Pawtucket manager Arnie Beyeler said, according to the newspaper.

Jenks needed 20 pitches, 11 strikes, to retire the side. His inning included one hit, a walk, two stolen bases and a strikeout.

His pitches clocked as high as 96 mph on the McCoy Stadium radar gun as he mixed in a half-dozen breaking pitches, including one that bounced in front of the plate.

The veteran is expected to be activated in the next day or two by the Red Sox, according to The Journal.