CLEVELAND – A year away from managing has been enough for Terry Francona, who craves a chance to get back on the field and back inside a major league clubhouse.

The Cleveland Indians just might put him there.

The former Phillies and Red Sox manager, who has spent the past season working as a TV broadcaster, interviewed Friday to be the Indians’ next manager. Francona spent most of the day in meetings with the team owner, Paul Dolan, General Manager Chris Antonetti and other front-office members.

Francona worked as an adviser for the Indians in 2001 and has remained close to Antonetti and the team president Mark Shapiro. Francona’s father, Tito, played for the Indians from 1959-64.

“The fact that my dad played here, it’s a good story,” Francona said.

“It’s almost a family feeling. I don’t think you can take a job because of that, but it still means a lot to me. But because of Chris and Mark and my relationship, I am excited to tackle or attempt to tackle every challenge that comes our way and do it together.”

Francona’s interview came one day after the Indians met with Sandy Alomar Jr. about their managerial opening.

Alomar began the season as the club’s bench coach but served as interim manager after Manny Acta was fired with six games left in a disappointing season.

Alomar and Francona are the only candidates expected to meet with the Indians, who will likely make their choice over the weekend and announce it as early as Monday.

Antonetti said he would like his new manager to participate in organizational meetings next week in Goodyear, Ariz.

“If the timing works out where he can participate in some of those, great,” he said, “but we’re not going to artificially rush it.”

DODGERS: Outfielder Matt Kemp had surgery on his left shoulder and should be ready for opening day.

Kemp will begin physical therapy in a week to 10 days and is expected to start swinging a bat in early January. The Dodgers open the season April 1 against San Francisco.

TWINS: General Manager Terry Ryan removed the interim tag from his title.

Ryan said he’s “all set and committed and ready to go” to try to turn around the Twins, who lost 96 games this season and 99 the year before.

ANGELS: Catcher Chris Iannetta agreed to a $15.55 million, three-year contract that keeps him from becoming a free agent.

Iannetta’s previous contract contained a $5 million club option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout, but the deal said the option would become mutual if he was traded, and Colorado dealt him to the Angels last Nov. 30 for right-hander Tyler Chatwood. The option price had escalated to $5.05 million.

YANKEES: Manager Joe Girardi said the only thing set for the team is CC Sabathia will start Game 1 of the division series.

Girardi said before the team worked out at an eerily quiet Yankee Stadium that there were too many unknowns until the Yankees learned their opponent for Sunday.