The Wall Street Journal mentions L.A. Times editor John Carroll as a possible longshot for the top job at the New York Times, then shoots it down: "Having an editor in chief from a rival newspaper come aboard seems unlikely." Even if he isn't asked to come to New York, Carroll might yet play a secondary role in who does end up there. Here's how (it has nothing to do with The Memo).

Carroll has been in charge at the L.A. Times now for three years. How long he plans to stay could influence how managing editor Dean Baquet responds to an overture from his old friends at the NYT. When Carroll first arrived in Los Angeles, there was talk of him promising to serve about five years then returning back East. Before being offered the LAT job, Carroll had been preparing to leave as editor of the Baltimore Sun to go to Harvard to run the prestigious Nieman journalism fellowships.

Baquet has to be considered a top candidate, probably the leading prospect, to replace Carroll. That gives him something to think about, and some negotiating leverage, if Arthur Sulzberger Jr. tries to woo him back to New York. Some around the LAT think Baquet would be pulled by an offer to become NYT executive editor, the #1 job, but might decide to stay here if only offered managing editor with a chance to move up the next time the top job comes open.

His chances at the L. A. Times are thought to be enhanced because, in addition to being liked and respected in the LAT newsroom, Baquet is one of the few editors with roots at the Chicago Tribune. He was a reporter there before jumping to the New York Times, where he rose to become national editor.