Bobby Valentine to be Named Red Sox Next Manager

It looks like the Boston Red Sox will have a manager in place when they travel to Dallas, Texas for next week’s Winter Meetings.  Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com is reporting that Bobby Valentine “will be the next manager of the Red Sox”.  While nothing has been made official, Edes is reporting that Valentine was offered the job in the last few days and immediately accepted.

When he did accept Boston’s offer, Valentine wasn’t even in the country.  Instead, Bobby V was stationed in Japan on personal business.  Valentine is expected to return to the states today and Edes expects the new Red Sox skipper to arrive in Boston this afternoon.

Boston’s managerial search had been narrowed to two this weekend, as Valentine and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont were the last men standing.  Both had previous major league managerial experience, something the Red Sox were looking for in their next skipper.

Word leaked yesterday afternoon that Lamont was apparently out of the running.  While the Red Sox did not confirm this, reports that Valentine would be taking over Boston’s clubhouse soon followed.

Valentine has spent the past several years working as an analyst for ESPN.  Valentine’s last managed in the majors in 2002, when he led the New York Mets to a record of 75-86.

Valentine brings 15 years of managerial experience to the Red Sox.  Getting his first major league gig with the Rangers in 1985, Valentine compiled a record of 581-605 in Texas.  Valentine split with the Rangers in 1992 and eventually found his way to the Big Apple.  As the manager of the Mets, Valentine maintained a winning percentage of .534, leading New York to the 2000 National League Pennant.

Other than his time in Major League Baseball, Valentine has also spent several years managing in Japan.  Between his time with the Rangers and Mets, Valentine managed the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League in 1995.  Valentine was able to lead the Marines to a winning record that year, but was fired abruptly after falling out with the team’s general manager.

Valentine returned to Japan in 2004, again taking over as the manager of the Marines.  Valentine led the Marines to a 2005 Japan Series title and continued coaching until the 2009 season.  Valentine again fell out with team executives and left Japan for an analyst position at ESPN.

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