By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chief operating officer John Allen's announcement that the Reds' general manager search is down to eight candidates would seem to indicate the opening will not be filled in-house.

Brad Kullman and Leland Maddox, the team's assistant general managers, have run baseball operations since Jim Bowden was fired July 28. Both are interested in succeeding Bowden and have not been told they are out of the running, but neither has had an interview with Allen.

"He hasn't told me anything one way or another," Kullman said. "And I haven't asked."

Maddox politely declined comment. Allen would not say whether Kullman and Maddox are still candidates.

It's believed Minnesota assistant general manager Wayne Krivsky will interview today. Montreal general manager Omar Minaya, Houston assistant GM Tim Purpura and Florida assistant GM Dan Jennings are also on the candidate list.

LOVE ME NON-TENDER: Ryan Dempster feels great after Aug. 9 ligament-replacement surgery on his pitching elbow. But he doesn't feel good about his chances of returning to the Reds.

Dempster, a 26-year-old right-hander, is arbitration-eligible.

"I'm sure they'll non-tender me," he said. "With the way things are going, they're not going to want to sign someone who can't pitch until July."

If the Reds non-tender him, Dempster effectively becomes a free agent. Some team might be willing to sign him at a discount and have him rehabilitate.

Dempster said he didn't realize how bad his elbow was until recently.

"I can do things that I haven't been able to do since I was 15," he said. "I can hold the phone, scratch my shoulder, and it doesn't ache," he said.

Dempster doesn't rule out returning to the Reds. "I'm open-minded to anything," he said.

If the Reds don't offer Dempster arbitration by Dec. 7, they can't re-sign him until May 1.

TWO IN A ROW: The Reds used the same lineup Wednesday as they did Tuesday. It broke a streak of 33 straight games in which they've had a different lineup, dating to Aug. 19 at Arizona.

EASLER OUT: The Reds announced they did not renew the contract of Mike Easler, their minor-league hitting instructor. Easler told the club he wanted to seek a major-league coaching position.

GOOD DEED: Juan Castro is collecting whatever equipment players don't want so he can take it to his native Mexico and give it to players in the Winter League there.

"It's tough for them to get stuff; it can be expensive for them," he said. "I do it every year."

UP NEXT: The Reds conclude the series with the Cubs at 7:05 p.m. today. Right-hander Todd Van Poppel (1-1, 4.25 ERA) faces right-hander Carlos Zambrano (13-10, 2.97).