M’s complete five interviews for skipper

SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners have completed their first five interviews in their search for a new manager, having talked this week with Bobby Valentine, Cecil Cooper, John Gibbons, Lloyd McClendon and Eric Wedge.

While the Mariners may also expand the field, two familiar names don’t appear to be in it despite a report Wednesday. A story on SI.com listed numerous names, including those of former Mariners second baseman Joey Cora and former M’s pitching coach Bryan Price.

Price, the Cincinnati Reds’ pitching coach this year, told the Herald on Thursday that he hasn’t heard from the Mariners.

Cora, the Chicago White Sox’ bench coach, told Jim Street of MLB.com that he also hadn’t been contacted by the M’s.

Both men said their understanding is that the Mariners are pursuing someone with previous major league managing experience.

Ackley update

The X-rays are back on second baseman Dustin Ackley’s injured finger and they confirmed what the Mariners suspected the previous day after he was hurt in an Arizona Fall League game.

Ackley, the Mariners’ first-round draft pick in 2009, has a sprained ring finger on his left (glove) hand, and X-rays showed there’s no break. He was hurt when a line drive hit the tip of his glove in the second inning of the Peoria Javelinas’ game at Surprise.

Pedro Grifol, the Mariners’ minor league director, said Ackley should miss only two or three games.