AROUND THE MAJORS

Charlie Manuel, Cleveland’s hitting instructor, is the leading candidate to become the next manager of the Indians, who fired Mike Hargrove. New names have been popping up daily, including Orel Hershiser and George Brett. “We’ve had a couple of brief conversations,” Hershiser said in Atlanta Tuesday night. . . . The Colorado Rockies appear close to naming Buddy Bell as the third manager in the team’s seven-year history. . . . In Washington, the House approved a resolution honoring Hank Aaron as one of baseball’s best players. The Senate approved a similar resolution last week. . . . Houston right-hander Scott Elarton will have surgery Thursday to repair a torn right rotator cuff.