Salt Lake City Mayor-elect Ralph Becker is a little like new Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, a bright and unpredictable manager sure to breathe a fresh focus into a stodgy system.

That makes Rocky Anderson sort of a Joe Torre, swept out after nearly a decade of amassing fans, foes and headlines.

And, now, a vacuum as Becker hustles to fill roster spots.

Since celebrating at Squatters on Election Night, Becker and his transition team have been huddling in the City-County Building's basement, reviewing résumés, phoning free agents and weighing options.

Becker, the Utah House's former Democratic minority leader, knows this is his best chance to shape the organization into a progressive profile that fits his playing style.

"It's a brave new world," boasts David Everitt, an agentlike spokesman for Becker, who explains that teams of five are assembling to break down city players much as baseball scouts score prospects. "They're trying to take a really fresh look at the city. Everything is fair game at this point."

That may make for some tough calls.

Unlike the Yankees, there is no A-Rod in the equation. No superstar immune to being benched.

That means department directors such as Louis Zunguze or George Shaw could be dropped - on the campaign trail Becker labeled the city's planning operation a "shambles" - as could the police chief, fire boss or City Attorney Ed Rutan.

Besides the mayor's inner circle, every department chief - and most of their deputies - are on the hook as "at will" employees who serve at the pleasure of the mayor.

Division heads, who typically serve long stints and survive multiple mayors, are less likely to be shopped.

Team Becker is keeping a tight lip, but some turnover is certain. Already, rumors are flying as fast as a fantasy baseball blog.

Depending on whom you listen to, former state Sen. Karen Hale - she has some value after bumping Becker mayoral opponent Dave Buhler out of the Senate in the '90s - may become communications director. Ex-legislator Patrice Arent, Becker's former Democratic whip, may be snagged as chief of staff. And the new regime may have its eyes on Karen Okabe, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon's current deputy.

Deals for some soon-to-be-free agents also may be struck. City Hall insiders say Lynn Creswell, Rocky's right-hand bat, will move from chief administrative officer back to the attorney's office, where he once served as senior city lawyer.

The new airport director, who was drafted from out of state, also could be safe.

Scouts say Becker wants to move fast - hoping to inform at-will employees of their fate before the holidays. The new mayor is sure to roll out his roster before the Jan. 7 inauguration.

"He has a decent amount of leeway on how he wants to structure the office," says Everitt, stressing no titles have been established. It also is unclear whether Becker will name a deputy mayor - his choice so long as he remains within the allotted budget.

One thing is certain: Becker will not force current appointees to resign en masse, then re-apply for their jobs. Instead, the new squad will conduct interviews, inside and outside City Hall, to judge performance.

As for the 13-member transition team, Everitt remains coy, like an agent angling for the best contract for a client.

"In no way should you link them to a job in the mayor's office," Everitt says. At the same time, "that does not disqualify them" from landing in a Becker administration.

Both Hale and Arent are members of the transition troupe, as is Rebecca Chavez-Houck, a community activist who could be tapped either for Becker's city team or to take his seat on Capitol Hill.

The only certain job is Everitt's, though even that is cloudy. Becker's spokesman says simply that he will be going to the mayor's office ''in some capacity.''

Of course, with inside baseball, just like the real game, a curveball could change everything.

djensen@sltrib.com

Becker's band of 13

Here are the members of Mayor-elect Ralph Becker's transition team:

* Former Mayor Palmer DePaulis, chairman.

* Lobbyist Mike Zuhl, vice chairman.

* Salt Lake Chamber executive Natalie Gochnour, economic development.

* Former state Sen. Karen Hale, neighborhoods and community.

* Former state Sen. Patrice Arent, legal and justice.

* Redevelopment Agency Director D.J. Baxter, public works.

* City Councilman Soren Simonsen, sustainability.

* Special education teacher Jennifer Mayer-Glenn, education.

* Business owner David Ibarra, administrative services.

* West Jordan police Capt. Gary Cox, public safety.

* Utah House Democratic Caucus communications director Rebecca Chavez-Houck, boards and commissions.

* Attorney Ben McAdams, at large.

* University of Utah professor Bob Huefner, at large.