Let's play name a new manager

In the latest round of managerial shuffling, four teams settled on new skippers Monday.

Lou Piniella was introduced as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' manager and the New York Mets finally announced the hiring of Art Howe away from Oakland. The Athletics will promote bench coach Ken Macha in his place, his agent said, and a Cleveland Indians team source told The Associated Press that Eric Wedge will be their next manager.

Piniella agreed to become the Devil Rays' manager after asking his former team, the Seattle Mariners, to release him from the last year of his contract.

The Milwaukee Brewers will hire Ned Yost as their new manager, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Yost, a former backup catcher for the Brewers, has been a coach with the Atlanta Braves the past 12 years.

An unidentified baseball source who spoke with general manager Doug Melvin last weekend said Yost was Melvin's choice to replace the fired Jerry Royster, according to the newspaper.

Piniella wanted to negotiate with the Mets, too, but the Mariners sought an agreement on compensation before allowing Piniella to talk with other teams.

The Mets and Mariners never settled on compensation, but the Devil Rays did -- All-Star outfielder Randy Winn became a Mariner on Monday.

Piniella will become the majors' second-highest paid manager after signing a $13 million, four-year contract.

Howe's introduction Monday was also a formality -- word that the Mets would hire him leaked last Wednesday night.