ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Lou Piniella himself says that he's almost the manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"Put it this way,'' Piniella told The Tampa Tribune. "It's close.''

Sources told the newspaper that Pinella will meet Sunday with Devil Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli and general manager Chuck LaMar to finalize details on a contract. An announcement of Pinella's hiring is expected Monday, barring unexpected snags, the Tribune and St. Petersberg Times both reported Thursday.

Earlier reports that Pinella has agreed to a four-year, $13 million deal to manage his hometown team were premature, though the agreement is within sight. If he signs, Piniella would be baseball's second-highest paid manager, behind Joe Torre.

According to several reports, the Devil Rays will send All-Star outfielder Randy Winn to the Mariners in exchange for the rights to Piniella.

"I've had three nice meetings with the Tampa Bay people, and they've been good, productive meetings,'' Piniella told the Tribune. "I've gotten a chance to look at their organization and at the same time talk to Chuck and Vince about how they perceive things. I've come away satisfied that this organization wants to win and get things on track.''

Newsday reported that an agreement was reached Thursday, although nothing would become official until after the World Series.

That comes from the request of MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who doesn't want anything to steal the spotlight from the Fall Classic between the San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels.

That also goes for managerial vacancies with the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics. According to numerous reports, both teams have agreed to terms with their new skippers.

The New York Daily News and Newsday have reported that Art Howe has agreed to leave Oakland to join the Mets. Newsday added that Athletics bench coach Ken Macha will take over Oakland.

Piniella, Howe and Macha all are represented by Alan Nero, making it possible for all three deals to be settled simultaneously.

The Devil Rays first met with Piniella for several hours Saturday morning, one day after reaching a compensation agreement with Seattle that enabled them to begin negotiating with the Mariners' manager for the last 10 years.

"The reason for leaving Seattle was the family consideration, and certainly this job will take care of that,'' Piniella said. "And honestly also, too, the challenge of doing basically what we did in Seattle 10 years ago. If my situation works out with Tampa Bay, we hope to do a likewise job. And I think things went pretty well in Seattle.''

Piniella announced last week that he was leaving to manage closer to home. Since he has a year remaining on his contract with Seattle, the Mariners are entitled to compensation if Piniella manages elsewhere in 2003.

The New York Mets also were interested in Piniella, but reportedly were unable to reach a compensation agreement with the Mariners.

Newsday said the Mariners wanted future Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar and top shortstop prospect Jose Reyes for Piniella and high-priced second baseman Bret Boone.

"It's either that or I stay home," Piniella told the St. Petersberg Times. "I never got the opportunity to talk to New York. I don't know what happened as far as the compensation issue is concerned."

"I've heard those rumors," Winn told the St. Petersberg Times. "I look at it kind of like any other trade rumors, that they're just that until something concrete happens. I'm really trying not to get caught up in it too much."

The Devil Rays also interviewed Macha and New York Yankees coaches Willie Randolph and Lee Mazzilli.

Piniella, 59, who has three grown children, graduated from high school in Tampa and attended the University of Tampa.

The Devil Rays tied for the worst record in the major leagues last season at 55-106 and fired manager Hal McRae.

Piniella guided the Mariners to an American League-record 116 wins in 2001 and was rewarded with AL manager of the year honors. But Seattle fell six games shy of the playoffs this season and Piniella reportedly was upset that the team did not make more midseason moves.

Unquestionably the most successful manager in team history, Piniella guided the Mariners to three straight playoff appearances and four in the last eight years.

Under Piniella, Seattle went 840-711 and reached the ALCS in 1995, 2000 and 2001. Piniella has a career managerial mark of 1,319-1,135 and guided the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series title in 1990.

Only Atlanta's Bobby Cox, St. Louis' Tony La Russa and Joe Torre of the New York Yankees have more wins than Piniella among active managers.