By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mike Port isn't intentionally holding up the Reds' search for a new general manager; it's just working out that way.

"I've had a few distractions," said Port, vice president/baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. Port was in New York after a flight from Oakland, where the Red Sox won their division series over the A's. He hadn't slept as of Tuesday afternoon.

"But I have been thinking about it," Port said.

Port thinks he'll be able to get to Cincinnati sometime this week to interview. The Red Sox have an off day Friday in their series with the New York Yankees.

"I don't want to impede their process," he said of the Reds.

Port is one of the eight finalists for the GM job. The others: Montreal GM Omar Minaya, Houston assistant GM Tim Purpura, Texas assistant Dan O'Brien, Minnesota assistant GM Wayne Krivsky, Milwaukee scout David Wilder, Detroit assistant GM Al Avila and San Francisco assistant GM Ned Colletti. Reds chief operating officer John Allen said, "We're on schedule."