The Cardinals interviewed their first two candidates -- Chris Maloney and Joe McEwing -- today as the search to replace Tony La Russa continues, club sources said.

The Cardinals are expected to talk with two more candidates on Friday. Terry Francona is expected in St. Louis as early as Friday. WEEI, a radio station in Boston, reported that Francona would have his interview Friday with the club.

Additional interviews are scheduled for Tuesday.

In Thursday's Post-Dispatch, Joe Strauss reported six who were under consideration. The other four: Cardinals third base coach Jose Oqendo, former Boston Red Sox manager Francona, former Cub Ryne Sandberg, and former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny.

ESPN.com quoted Cubs general manager Theo Epstein on Thursday afternoon saying he had spoken with Francona about the manager opening at Wrigley Field.

Maloney is the manager in Memphis, the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate.

McEwing is a coach with the Chicago White Sox.

Maloney, 50, has been the Memphis manager for five seasons. Before that he served as the manger in Double-A Springfield for two years. He was also a manager in the Astros organization at Triple-A New Orleans.

Before leaving the Cardinals' organization for the Astros, he managed at Hamilton in the NY-Penn League, Savannah in the South Atlantic League and Arkansas in the Texas League.

He won the organization's George Kissell Award for player development in 2006 and 2009. Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has often lauded Maloney's ability to keep the Triple-A team competitive despite constant interference from the major-league club -- players needed to fill innings, players being returned suddenly, and, of course, injury replacements taken. Maloney is viewed internally as a solid teacher with a good feel for discipline. His Memphis club won the Pacific Coast League championship in 2009 and was the runnerup in 2010.

McEwing, 39, was recently named third-base coach on Robin Ventura's staff with the White Sox.

He had joined the White Sox in 2008 as Triple-A Charlotte hitting coach. He also managed with Class A Winston-Salem (2009-10) and Charlotte this past season. McEwing is widely regarded as a rising managerial prospect. He has deep roots in the Cardinals' organization, coming first the system as a 28th-round draft pick in 1992. McEwing made his major-league debut with the Cardinals in 1998, and in 1999 he finished fifth in Rookie the Year voting after batting .275 with 65 runs scored in 152 games. He appeared at seven different positions for the Cardinals.