It looks like former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took one thing from Boston -- his list of managerial candidates.

Both the Cubs and Red Sox have requested and been granted permission to interview Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux and the Red Sox can talk to Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. for their vacant managerial positions.

"I plan to meet with the Cubs and Red Sox next week based upon my health," Maddux, who is battling laryngitis, said via email. "The quicker we heal, the sooner we'll settle matters."

Maddux, 50, the older brother of former Cubs and Braves great Greg Maddux, pitched for 10 teams in a 15-year career in the majors. He was the Brewers' pitching coach for six seasons and has been in the same role with the Rangers the last three seasons.

Mike Maddux is credited with helping the Rangers pitching staff become one of the most dominant in the league. Dennis Wierzbicki/US Presswire

"Mike is in a key role for us and has had a prominent hand in our success the past few years," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said on Thursday. "But this is a unique opportunity to discuss a coveted position with two storied franchises, and we believe in allowing our people to pursue opportunities that they're interested in. It reflects well both on Mike and our organization that he's under consideration."

Maddux said he's made some introductions to the Cubs and Red Sox personnel via text messaging because he can't talk.

"This puts a little delay on everything," Maddux said. "(It's) unbelievable to hear those two teams have interest. (They are) both storied franchises full of tradition and synonymous with history. Their ballparks are shrines and they have great fans year after year."

In his first season with the Rangers, the staff ERA dropped nearly a full run from 2008, the second-largest drop in team history. The 4.38 ERA in 2009 was the lowest since 1993 (before the team moved into Rangers Ballpark in Arlington). It got better in 2010 as the Rangers sported a 3.93 ERA, fourth-best in the AL. And this past season, the Rangers had a 3.79 ERA, the seventh-lowest in franchise history and the lowest since a club-record 3.31 ERA in 1983. It was just the second time in club history that the Rangers finished in the top five in ERA in the AL in consecutive years.

The Red Sox and Cubs have other candidates in common.

Epstein, the Cubs new president of baseball operations, and Jed Hoyer, the team's new general manager will also interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin on Wednesday evening, Epstein confirmed. Epstein and the Cubs have also talked to former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who worked with Epstein in Boston.

The Red Sox have already spoken to Mackanin about their managerial vacancy.

Mackanin, who was born in Chicago and graduated from Brother Rice High School, is a former major league second baseman and longtime minor league coach and manager. He has served as bench coach in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and was interim manager of the Pirates and Reds.