The Red Sox could have their new manager in place in the next week.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said this week that he does not know whether the job will be filled prior to the start of the World Series on Tuesday. But he moved quickly to identify candidates and conduct interviews to find a replacement for John Farrell.

Clearly, the priority is to find the right manager. But hiring sooner than later would allow the Sox to focus on assembling a coaching staff and making roster changes.

Here is a closer look at the three candidates the Red Sox are known to be considering:

Brad Ausmus

Current position: Unemployed.

Pros: Ausmus was hired by Dombrowski to manage the Detroit Tigers before the 2014 season, and the two had a good working relationship until Dombrowski was fired in 2015. Given Dombrowski’s hands-on approach, that’s an important factor . . . Ausmus managed David Price for a calendar year and the lefty was 13-8 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts under him . . . As a player, Ausmus was considered a key component to healthy clubhouse environments with the Dodgers and Astros . . . Ausmus, 48, may not be an exciting candidate, but he’s smart, steady, and experienced.

Cons: Ausmus was 18 games under .500 in four years with the Tigers and finished last twice . . . The Tigers had a 5.36 ERA this season, the worst in baseball . . . In a market where only three or four outlets cover the Tigers on the road, Ausmus could be defensive when asked about in-game decisions . . . The Sox hired Dombrowski after he was fired by Detroit. Do they really want another Motor City retread?

Red Sox connection: Peripherally, Ausmus has long been tied to the Sox. He was a fan of the team growing up in Connecticut and while attending Dartmouth. Ausmus already has a home on Cape Cod, and his late mother, Linda, grew up in Brookline. This would be a dream job for him.

Alex Cora

Current position: Astros bench coach.

Pros: Cora would bring energy to the manager’s office, something the Sox could use after a disjointed 2017 season . . . Cora, who turns 42 Wednesday, relates well to young players and could help improve the performance of players such as Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Eduardo Rodriguez, and Andrew Benintendi, and instill some needed confidence . . . As a former Sox player, Cora fully understands the environment in Boston . . . Houston players describe Cora as being relentlessly competitive and hungry for information . . . Cora spent four years with ESPN as an analyst and should be equipped to handle media relations with more flair and less grim reserve than Farrell . . . A young, smart, Spanish-speaking manager could make the Red Sox an attractive choice for free agents.

Cons: Outside of winter ball in Puerto Rico, Cora has not managed and has only one year of MLB coaching experience . . . In Price, Dustin Pedroia, and Hanley Ramirez, the Red Sox have key older players coming off rocky seasons. How will a manager only a little older handle their personalities?

Red Sox connection: Cora played for the Sox from 2005-08 and was a member of their 2007 World Series champions. While much has changed with the organization since then, he has maintained a relationship with Pedroia, among others.

Ron Gardenhire

Current position: Diamondbacks bench coach

Pros: Gardenhire, who will interview Wednesday, managed the Minnesota Twins from 2002-14 and certainly understands the American League and the game. He has been a widely respected major league coach or manager for 25 years . . . From a tone-setting perspective, Gardenhire’s personality is much like that of Terry Francona in that he expects performance and accountability but creates a fun atmosphere . . . Gardenhire competed against Dombrowski in the AL Central for 13 seasons, and they know each other well.

Cons: The Twins averaged 96 losses in Gardenhire’s final four seasons, and an organization noted for its loyalty finally let him go . . . He turns 60 next week; do the Red Sox want a guy older than Farrell, given concerns that their young players did not respond well to the manager this season? . . . Gardenhire is temperamentally suited for the job, that is certain, but his last winning season as a manager was in 2010, and his last playoff victory was in 2004.

Red Sox connection: Gardenhire was hired in Arizona by general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo after they left the Red Sox, and both speak highly of the work he did in helping to turn that team around and earn a playoff berth.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.