In an interview with the Associated Press earlier yesterday, Trammell said he thought Leyland was a good choice to replace him.
"He has ties with the Tigers. He was there when I signed," Trammell said. "Whether I'm there or not, I'll always be a Tiger, and I'll always root for the Tigers, because I'm a part of their history, and I'm proud of that."
Leyland was beaten out for the Phillies' managerial job by Charlie Manuel last winter. He has said he wanted to manage again close to his Pittsburgh home, which is about a 5-hour drive from Detroit.
Leyland was a two-time NL Manager of the Year with Pittsburgh, where he won three division titles on teams that featured Barry Bonds.
Leyland signed his first pro contract and began a winding road in the Tigers system as a catcher with no pop in his bat. He didn't bat higher than .243 and never hit more than one home run in a season.
The Tigers have won four championships in nine World Series appearances, but haven't had won a division title since 1987 or a World Series since 1984. They finished this season 71-91, their 12th straight losing season.
The Tigers were 186-300 in 3 years under Trammell.
Former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, who was fired Sept. 6, is expected to join Leyland's staff, possibly as the bullpen coach, according to sources close to the teams.
Meanwhile, former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy appears to be the front-runner for the Pittsburgh job. Tracy and Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield have ties dating to their days together in the former Montreal Expos organization.
Noteworthy
* John Hart stepped down as general manager of the Texas Rangers, clearing the way for 28-year-old assistant GM Jon Daniels to become the youngest GM in major league history.
The Rangers finished 79-83, their third losing season in 4 years under Hart and fifth since winning their last AL West title in 1999.
Hart, whose teams won six division titles in his last 7 years in Cleveland ending in 2001, will be replaced by Daniels, who at 28 years, 41 days, is about 10 months younger than Theo Epstein was when he became Boston's GM on Nov. 25, 2002. Hart will remain a team consultant.
In another matter, injured reliever Carlos Almanzar was suspended for the first 10 days of next season for violating baseball's steroids policy. He has been out since ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow in May.
* Still stinging from the Indians' collapse in the final week of the season, GM Mark Shapiro said the team will offer a multiyear contract to righthander Kevin Millwood, who is eligible for free agency following the World Series. The former Phillie signed a 1-year, $7.25 million deal last winter. *
