The Philadelphia Phillies have given Ryne Sandberg permission to talk to the St. Louis Cardinals regarding their managerial vacancy.

Ryne Sandberg, the Phillies AAA manager, was once regarded as the heir apparent to the Cubs manager job until Wednesday when Theo Epstein said Sandberg will not be interviewed. Sandberg was a finalist to replace Lou Piniella as Cubs manager, but the job ultimately went to Mike Quade.

Sandberg is a legend in Chicago and would be a huge coup if the World Champions can get him as manager. Sandberg, who spent his 15 of his 16 years with the Cubs, has a .285 career average and, when he retired, had the record for most career home runs by a second baseman with 277.

Sandberg is regarded as a manager in waiting and has had great success in the minors. He won the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in 2010 with the Iowa Cubs and his Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs made it to the International League finals losing in four games.