Torre expected to become Dodgers' manager.

Byline: Ken Davidoff

Nov. 1--Joe Torre's discussions with the Dodgers are "headed in the right direction and going well," a person informed of the situation said last night, and as soon as today, the Brooklyn native could officially take over the club born as his home borough's Bums.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday that the club has been communicating with Torre, who is expected to sign a three-year deal for upward of $4 million per season.

Tommy Lasorda, the former Dodgers manager who is very close with team owner Frank McCourt, told ESPN Wednesday, "It seems like everything is going in that direction."

"We've had some conversations with him very recently," Colletti said of Torre. "Certainly, as you look at his resume and what he's done and the market he's done it in, you've certainly got to start there."

Don Mattingly, beaten out by Joe Girardi in the race to succeed Torre as the Yankees' manager, will join Torre's staff in Los Angeles, a source confirmed, and Torre is attempting to bring aboard former Yankees coaches such as Lee Mazzilli and Larry Bowa. The Dodgers historically do not pay their coaches well, a reported sticking point in the negotiations with Torre. Common ground figures to be found.

Fittingly, as Torre prepared to take his fifth big-league managing job, and as the Yankees announced they would formally introduce Girardi at Yankee Stadium Thursday, the last of Torre's possessions left Yankee Stadium in a moving truck. Girardi will have the manager's office all to himself Thursday, and perhaps that truck crossed the George Washington Bridge, hopped on Interstate 80 and headed west.