Red Sox Hire Bobby Valentine as Manager
Written by Bob Whalon, Tuesday November 29 2011
Several Boston media sources are reporting that the Red Sox made an offer to Bobby Valentine on Tuesday to become their next manager and the ESPN analyst accepted.
Valentine is in Japan for a charity event and did not respond to emails seeking comment. Valentine previously managed in Japan for seven years. The Red Sox declined to comment, but Boston general manager Ben Cherington said on Monday that the team hoped to hire a manager by Friday.
Valentine was a finalist for the job along with Detroit Tigers third-base coach Gene Lamont. Earlier in the day Lamont said he had not heard from the Red Sox. "I've just been hearing what's reported out there," he said. "I really haven't heard anything. Not much else to say."
Valentine's hiring comes as something of a surprise since he was not on Cherington's original list of candidates. There is speculation that Red Sox owner John Henry was the driving force behind the hiring of Valentine.
Valentine, 61, spent 15 seasons coaching in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. He was 581-605 (.480) during his eight seasons (1985-1992) as manager of the Rangers and 536-467 (.534) over seven seasons (1996-2002) with the Mets, where he won a National League pennant in 2000. His 15-year managerial record is 1,117-1,072 (.510).
Valentine has spent the last two years as a baseball analyst on ESPN after his seven years managing in Japan. Now he will become the 45th manager in Red Sox history.
Ironically, Valentine may be replaced at ESPN by Terry Francona, whose contract was not renewed by the Red Sox two months ago after last year's collapse and beer in the dugout scandal.
No press conference has been scheduled, but speculation is that it will be held on Thursday to allow Valentine time to fly back to the United States from Japan.
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