From the Oakland Tribune’s Josh Suchon.

Bob Geren will be named the 17th manager in Oakland Athletics history, according to a MediaNews source and an Associated Press report.

The source said the choice came down Colorado bench coach Jamie Quirk or Geren. Quirk told The Denver Post earlier Thursday he did not get the job. Geren did not return a phone call. Orel Hershiser, the other remaining candidate, did not return a phone call either.

Geren, a 45-year-old Danville resident, will likely be introduced as the new manager Friday. Geren was the A’s bench coach last year and bullpen coach the three previous years.

It’s possible Rene Lachemann, a former manager and the A’s bench coach in 2005, will be moved back to bench coach. David Justice and Carney Lansford are possibilities as coaches, as is Triple-A Sacramento manager Tony DeFrancesco and Double-A manager Von Hayes.

While the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Paul Hagen writes the Phillies are about to sign 3B Wes Helms, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal would like to cause some minor Friday morning panic amongst Mets fans.

The longer Tom Glavine delays his decision about returning to the Mets, one National League general manager speculated Thursday, the better the chances that he will rejoin the Braves.

Glavine, 40, will become a free agent at midnight Monday, the deadline for the Mets to exercise his $14 million option, the value of which would increase to $16 million if he made the All-Star team.

The Braves indeed want Glavine back, according to a major-league official with knowledge of their thinking, but general manager John Schuerholz would need to perform roster and budget gymnastics to fit the pitcher into the team’s plans.

The Braves do not lack for rotation candidates; their greatest needs are a leadoff hitter and eighth-inning reliever. Glavine, at this moment, would be a luxury, something the payroll-conscious Braves no longer can afford.

Then again, if the Braves re-signed Glavine to join right-handers John Smoltz and Tim Hudson at the top of their rotation, they perhaps could trade a starter to help fill another need.