SAN DIEGO - Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he will meet with CEO Sandy Alderson today to recommend two finalists to be the Padres' next manager.

Following an interview with Dusty Baker - the last of six preliminary candidates - that lasted until late Monday night, Towers said he faces a difficult choice in making the final cut.

"I want to sleep on it tonight," Towers said. "They were all good. I think it will be a difficult choice because they're all completely different, not only in experience but in their responsibilities with their current club."

Baker is one of two contenders who doesn't have a current club, as his contract was not renewed by the Chicago Cubs after this season. Tim Wallach, who interviewed on Saturday, last worked as the Los Angeles Dodgers' hitting coach in 2005.

Alderson returned from Japan, where he has been for the past week with Padres owner John Moores, in time to attend the dinner meeting with Baker.

Towers said Alderson and Moores are likely to interview the finalists this afternoon and Wednesday, with the Padres naming the successor to Bruce Bochy on Thursday.

"It's an organizational hire," Towers said. "Ultimately, I would imagine it will be Sandy's and my decision."

Alderson and Moores interviewed candidate Trey Hillman on Sunday in Tokyo before flying home, but that was because Hillman - manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters - had obligations in Japan preventing him from coming back to San Diego for a potential follow-up interview.

Baker, who ranks sixth among active managers with 1,162 wins, is the only contender who has managed in the major leagues. Last week he received a strong endorsement from Padres center fielder Mike Cameron.

"I know Dusty is a great communicator," Cameron said. "He's a great leader. He's a motivator. He's a winner. He can get the most out of players because of his communication skills. I would love to play for him."

The other five candidates are Hillman, Wallach, Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo, Angels pitching coach Bud Black and Giants bench coach Ron Wotus and former Dodgers hitting coach Tim Wallach. Black and Hillman are believed to be favorites for a finalist spot.

Balsley snag

Towers plans to talk today with the adviser for pitching coach Darren Balsley with hopes of breaking a stalemate and hammering out a multiyear contract.

Towers, who prefers to negotiate with coaches directly, said the two sides remain "a ways apart" in both years and dollars.

"I think the world of Darren, and I would like to keep him here," Towers said of Balsley, who oversaw a pitching staff that led the National League in ERA. "He did not feel comfortable talking to me directly. It's not my normal way of dealing with coaches, but I don't want to make him uncomfortable. He got somewhat emotional about it."

Balsley, a Mt. Carmel High graduate, didn't return a phone call Monday night.

If an agreement can't be reached soon, Towers said, Balsley runs the risk of being replaced by a pitching coach hand-picked by the Padres' new manager.

Mulder on radar

With David Wells likely to retire, the Padres hope to add a left-handed pitcher to a rotation featuring righties Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Clay Hensley.

Mark Mulder is one southpaw the Padres have an eye on. The Padres are among eight teams that have contacted the representative for Mulder, a free agent who had shoulder surgery on Sept. 12 after two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mulder, who was drafted by Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson with the Oakland Athletics in 1998, won an average of almost 18 games between 2001-05. The 29-year-old was hampered by a torn rotator cuff most of last season, when he went 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA.

The downside of Mulder is that he's not expected to be ready to pitch by the start of next season.

The Padres also have interest in lefty Andy Pettitte, who filed for free agency Monday. Pettitte, though, is mulling retirement at age 34.

Padres look far for 3B

The Padres will discuss today whether to bid on Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, who was posted Monday by his team, the Yakult Swallows.

The left-handed-hitting Iwamura, 27, batted at least .300 with 30 or more home runs each of the past three seasons and won five consecutive Gold Glove awards. The Padres are likely to submit a bid before the Friday deadline, a club source said.

Sheffield inquiry

The Padres are one of several teams that have inquired about outfielder Gary Sheffield, whose $13 million option was exercised Sunday by the New York Yankees with the intention of trading him.

Dealing for Sheffield is considered an alternative to the Padres' making a lucrative offer to free-agent outfielders Carlos Lee or Alfonso Soriano.