Former Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine says he has not officially been in contact with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team, after a report circulating Thursday mentioned him as being under consideration for ambassador to Japan.
"I have not officially talked with anyone from the Trump team," Valentine told The Japan Times in an email. "It would be a tremendous honor. I love the U.S. and I love Japan and the people of Japan."
Boston-area radio station WEEI first published a report on its website on Thursday, saying the former Red Sox manager had engaged in preliminary discussions about the position. The WEEI article also noted that Valentine, 66, has known the president-elect and his brother, Bob, since the 1980s and is also familiar with Anthony Scaramucci, who is part of the Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee.