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KANSAS CITY -- There are signs that the Royals' hiring of a new manager is imminent, with an announcement possibly coming Tuesday.

Although general manager Allard Baird has said that he didn't expect a decision to be solidified until the middle to latter part of this week, he signaled a shift on Monday night.

"We are moving very quickly on that," Baird said.

That might mean a permanent replacement for Tony Pena, who resigned May 10, could be announced before Tuesday night's series opener here against the New York Yankees.

There was no immediate indication which of the five candidates would get the job.

They are former Major League managers Art Howe, Buddy Bell, Jerry Manuel and Terry Collins, plus interim manager Bob Schaefer.

Howe is still collecting a paycheck from the New York Mets, who dismissed him last September. He managed 14 years for the Houston Astros, Oakland A's and Mets.

Bell, the Cleveland Indians' bench coach, managed six years with the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies.

Manuel, the Mets' first-base coach, managed the Chicago White Sox for six years.

Collins, the Los Angeles Dodgers' director of player development, managed six years for the Astros and Angels.

Schaefer, the Royals' bench coach under Pena, took over May 11 and has a 5-12 record. The team went 0-6 on a just-completed trip to Texas and Anaheim.

Baird was involved in a series of meetings Monday night, indicating that the issue was hot.

He announced Monday that hitting coach Jeff Pentland had been fired and would be replaced for the rest of the season by Minor League hitting instructor Andre David.

Baird said that the move was not predicated on the impending managerial hiring.

"It doesn't mean that the new manager wasn't aware of the cir stances of the situation," he added.

Apparently, that change is not the only one ahead for the Royals. Roster moves are being considered as well.

"I would anticipate a series of moves over the next few days, player-wise," Baird said.

Schaefer said that as of 10 p.m. CT Monday, he had not heard from Baird.

"But, you know what, whatever happens, happens. I'm just happy that they gave me a chance," Schaefer said.

"They need to get somebody probably with experience to take them for two or three years. I'd be a stop-gap anyway. So I'll see what happens."

Perhaps team captain Mike Sweeney wasn't so far off when he mused about the managerial job on Monday afternoon.

"In my gut, I feel like they'll have an announcement tomorrow," he said.

Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.