updated 3:37 p.m. ET Oct. 17, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Giants received permission to speak to Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black about their managerial opening.

General manager Brian Sabean has said his list of candidates to replace Felipe Alou will be short, and that experience as a manager either in the majors or minors would be preferable. But Sabean also said someone with considerable experience in a big league coaching position might be considered — such as Black.

The Giants cut ties with Alou on Oct. 2, a day after the team finished its second straight losing season and third consecutive year out of the playoffs. San Francisco is committed to moving forward with a younger roster, and perhaps a younger manager.

San Francisco also could meet with San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who has received permission from his club to explore other opportunities despite having one year remaining on his contract. Bochy has guided San Diego to back-to-back NL West titles.

Jerry Manuel, the New York Mets’ bench coach, is considered another possible candidate — though Sabean would likely have to wait until New York’s season is over. The Giants must interview at least one minority candidate. Both previous managers under the current ownership group headed by Peter Magowan — Dusty Baker and Alou — are minorities.

Black has no experience as a manager, but was one of the most respected pitching coaches in the game since being hired by the Angels in November 1999. He guided the staff that won the World Series in 2002, two AL West titles and perennially had one of the game’s top pitching staffs.

Black, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Angels last November, declined an interview with the Los Angeles Dodgers for their managerial opening last offseason. He turned down other interview opportunities in the past, saying he didn’t want to have to move his family from Rancho Santa Fe, located in the San Diego area. He has a daughter in middle school and another in high school.

Sabean would like to hire a manager before deciding on who he might keep from a daunting list of 11 potential free agents on the 2006 roster, most notably slugger Barry Bonds.

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The 42-year-old Bonds is expected to file for free agency after the World Series and is yet to hear from San Francisco about beginning negotiations. The day after the season ended, Giants owner Peter Magowan said if Bonds does return he no longer will be the centerpiece of the franchise as he was in his first 14 seasons in San Francisco.

Bonds’ $90 million, five-year contract is expiring, though he has said he would like to return to the Giants next year — his 22nd in the big leagues and likely his last season.

Bonds has 734 home runs, 22 away from breaking Hank Aaron’s career record of 755. After missing all but 14 games in 2005 following three operations on his right knee, Bonds batted .270 with 26 homers and 77 RBIs in 367 at-bats in 2006.

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