Torre, 67, could be named manager in the next 24 hours according to two sources close to the situation. Don Mattingly is expected to accompany Torre to Los Angeles as his bench coach.

Torre is also interested in hiring Kevin Long, his hitting coach with the Yankees. But the Yankees are hoping to retain Long as a coach under soon-to-be-named new manager Joe Girardi.

The Dodgers were 82-80 this season under Little and were beset by clubhouse unrest. Owner Frank McCourt, a Boston native, decided Torre is best suited to quell that situation. It is expected that Torre will receive at least a three-year contract.

Torre turned down a one-year incentive-laden offer to remain as manager of the Yankees on Oct. 18. He had been with the Yankees for 12 seasons, winning four World Series championships.

Torre said the next day that he was interested in staying in baseball and would consider another opportunity to manage.

"I still feel the energy level," he said at the time. "I'm free to listen right now."

Torre was an announcer for the then-California Angels before becoming manager of the Yankees in 1996.