"My gut tells me the next manager of the Marlins will be Jim Leyland," a National League source said recently. Oh, there are other candidates high on the Marlins' list of potential replacements. Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi, who the Marlins tried to hire as their bench coach last fall, is one of Loria's personal favorites. But the Yankees aren't likely to let Girardi walk at midseason. The same goes for the Braves and third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez. Former Red Sox manager Grady Little has been mentioned, and Jeff Torborg still has his admirers in the organization. The Marlins would love to take a crack at Lou Piniella, but his situation in Tampa Bay is too murky. That brings us back to Leyland, who is definitely available, on the list and makes sense on several levels. First, he's a proven winner. Three division titles in Pittsburgh and one World Series title with a fifth-year expansion team should win over the toughest of clubhouses. Those 1,069 wins in the majors, 44th all-time, don't hurt either. "For me he's the equivalent of a Larry Brown or a Pat Riley," says Brewers third-base coach Rich Donnelly, one of Leyland's closest friends. "He's one of the greatest managers of our time. Every time he's been given a good team he's proved that." Second, Leyland is highly motivated. Yes, he has quit on the Pirates, Marlins and Rockies in the past, even giving back $4.5 million to escape the horrors of Coors Field. But after five-plus seasons on the sidelines, during which he has done regular scouting for the Cardinals, Leyland is sitting home in Pittsburgh, rested and ready. "He's very interested in returning to managing," Donnelly says. "He'd like to go with a team that has a realistic chance to win, but he's got the fire back. I can tell just by looking in his eyes. We talk about it. I just think he misses it." Leyland, 60, was disappointed when the Phillies rejected him in favor of club insider Charlie Manuel last winter, and untested Willie Randolph beat him out for the Mets job as well.