GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -On his first day as Dodgers interim manager, hitting coach Don Mattingly said Wednesday the team has made overtures about him eventually becoming Joe Torre's permanent replacement.

With Torre en route to Taiwan to manage a Dodgers split squad for three exhibition games, Mattingly is in charge of the team in Arizona and will work at least five games as manager.

Mattingly interviewed with the Cleveland Indians for their manager opening this offseason. He then turned down an interview request from the Washington Nationals.

In a meeting this winter with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, owner Frank McCourt and team president Dennis Manion, Mattingly said the word manager was brought up but nothing definitive was said or done.

Torre's contract expires after this season but both he and McCourt said they are working on a one-year extension. Mattingly would then take over the Dodgers in 2012.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.