Report: Bobby Valentine to Become Next Red Sox Manager

by Mike Cole on Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 7:57PM

The search is finally over, and the Red Sox apparently have themselves a new manager.

Bobby Valentine will be named the next Red Sox manager after a long search to replace Terry Francona, multiple reports indicate. The story was first reported by WCVB-TV's Mike Lynch on Twitter early Tuesday night.

According to ESPN.com's Gordon Edes, the Sox offered the job to Valentine while he was in Japan on personal business. According to Edes, Valentine immediately accepted the job, and he is expected to be in Boston on Wednesday.

Valentine last managed in the major leagues in 2002. That season concluded a six-plus season stint with the New York Mets in which Valentine's team went 536-467. The Mets went to the World Series in 2000 under Valentine, but fell to the Yankees.

The 61-year-old also managed the Texas Rangers from 1985-1992. They were 581-605 during that stretch.

Valentine also managed in Japan before returning to America where he has most recently worked as analyst for ESPN.

"They have one of the best teams in baseball, one of the best organizations in baseball, one of the greatest venues in baseball, with a winning tradition over the last 10 years," Valentine said upon meeting with the Boston media on Nov. 21. "Other than that there's really no reason why I want to be here."