team managers

Bobby Valentine will be the new Boston Red Sox manager, as soon as the two sides get the contract worked out. The 61-year-old former Rangers and Mets skippper has a career record of 1,117–1,072 as a manager, but he hasn’t managed in the US since 2002. Valentine found success in Japan where in 2005 he guided the Chiba Lotte Marines to their first Japan Series title in 31 years.

Just days after earning his third career World Series title, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced Monday that he is retiring. He managed for 33 seasons, with stints with the White Sox and Athletics before joining the Cardinals in 1996. La Russa, 67, is third all-time in post-season wins and third in regular season wins.

As the Boston Red Sox are expected to name Ben Cherington their next general manager on Thursday, the man who used to occupy that position, Theo Epstein, gave his final farewell to the team’s fans on Tuesday morning in a letter in the Boston Globe. He reminisced on his lifelong love for the Sox and how happy he was to see the team win twice during his reign.

Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke with Boston sports radio station WEEI on Wednesday, his first public comments since he parted ways with the team last week. Francona, who guided the Red Sox to World Series victories in 2004 and 2007, said that after the team’s historic late-season skid he chose to leave.