The Cardinals have asked the Phillies for permission to interview Triple-A manager Ryne Sandberg for their managerial opening, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Phillies have granted the Cardinals permission to speak with the Hall of Famer, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter).

The Cubs, Sandberg's former team, are also looking for a new manager, but they want a candidate with big league coaching or managing experience, which appears to rule Sandberg out. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa retired this week, kicking off St. Louis' managerial search.

The Cardinals have had Hall of Fame-caliber managers in the dugout for the past 31 seasons. Whitey Herzog has a plaque in Cooperstown and Joe Torre and La Russa, the Cardinals' only other full-time managers since 1980, are strong candidates to be inducted into the Hall of Fame themselves. Sandberg, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2005, would continue the Cardinals' tradition of high-profile managers.