ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Dusty Baker didn't sound like a manager who would be back in the Bay Area for the 2003 baseball season before Game 7 of the World Series on Sunday.

He's not convinced the Giants want him to return.

When asked what he would need to hear from Giants owner Peter Magowan to stick around, Baker said, "If somebody wanted me back, a lot of times they wouldn't wait until the last minute to tell them."

Baker's contract is up, along with general manager Brian Sabean's. After losing to the Anaheim Angels 4-1 in the final game of the season, Baker wasn't ready to talk about his future.

"You know, there hasn't been time really to think about those kinds of things," he said.

The 53-year-old Baker, finishing his 10th year with the Giants, said when the playoffs began that he did not intend to "break the bank" -- meaning the $6 million a year Joe Torre got from the Yankees -- "but I want to be near the bank."

Many managerial jobs have already been filled, but there still remain attractive openings with Seattle and the Chicago Cubs.

Magowan said after the game that he would name the GM within a few days. Sabean is expected to be back, and he said he would be on the phone with Baker "within five minutes" of re-signing a contract.

Magowan said he will not be directly involved in appointing a manager, leaving that task up to the GM.

Does he want Baker back? Magowan wouldn't say, but he did congratulate the manager for a fine season.

"He'll hear what he'll hear," Magowan said when asked about Baker's desire to hear that he's wanted.

"Dusty did a great job this year," Magowan said. "He outmanaged two good managers in Tony La Russa and Bobby Cox. But the final analysis of what happens will depend on what Dusty wants to happen."

Magowan expects the manager to be named within a week to 10 days.

Baker, who had the Giants in their first World Series since 1989, did not want to talk any further about his job status.

On Friday, Baker said he would give the decision plenty of thought, and rely on his faith and family.

"I don't think anybody really likes the terminology of the free-agent manager," Baker said. "I'm not worried about jobs being taken or filled up because maybe those weren't the jobs for me in the first place. Who knows, maybe I'm supposed to stay where I am. Maybe I'm supposed to go to what's left.

"Like I said, I'm going to wait until this is over with, hopefully, after we win, take some time off -- a few days -- do like I always do, just go to the mountain top someplace and think about it, ask for a sign. I'll come down and do whatever I was told to do."

Slugger Barry Bonds doesn't know how different this team could look in a few days.

"Ask Dusty, ask the owners. I don't control this situation," he said.

The likable Baker would be terribly missed. His players say it, his fellow coaches say it and fans show it every day. He waves to fans and always takes time to sign a few autographs before each game at Pacific Bell Park.

And he's successfully handled a variety of personalities in the clubhouse.

"The guy has meant so much to the city, the area, the last 10 years of managing its ballclub," pitching coach Dave Righetti said. "He's done a terrific job. He's brought a lot of spirit. The organization has definitely prospered because of Dusty Baker. If that day comes (when he leaves), which I'm truly honest I don't know, it would be very sad."