Lotte Marines deputy owner Akio Shigemitsu said Monday he will try to bring back Bobby Valentine as a replacement for manager Koji Yamamoto who is set to retire at the end of the season.
Bobby Valentine, who managed Chiba Lotte in 1995, is being pursed by the club to return to pilot the Marines again next season.
"I've heard that Valentine would like to manage in Japan again. So we are focusing on him as the No. 1 prospect," Shigemitsu said after a meeting with general manager Tomoichi Kawakita.
Valentine led the Marines to second place in the Pacific League in 1995 but was fired at the end of the season. He led the New York Mets to the National League pennant in 2000 but was fired after the Mets' poor performance last year.