Hot rumor: Valentine to Mariners as manager

By Larry Larue | The News Tribune • Published November 05, 2008

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DANA POINT, Calif. — Although representatives from all 30 major league teams huddled in a posh resort here, the most startling rumor of the day — and yes, it involved the Seattle Mariners — came from Japan.

It involved the Mariners' managerial search, which has not begun in earnest, and suggested that Japanese owner Hiroshi Yamauchi might push the team to hire Bobby Valentine, who has spent much of this decade managing in Japan.

Coming on the heels of Valentine expressing his desire to return to the big leagues, the story smacked of self promotion — and the Mariners quietly shrugged and discounted the rumor.

Still, at least in Japan, the rumor appeared to have legs.

For one thing, Yamauchi has at times made his feelings known, and had a hand in the signing of pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki and players Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima.

And, the theory went, should new general manager Jack Zduriencik not have a clear-cut top choice, Valentine might well be a viable candidate.

Or not.

Valentine, now 58, is making $1.5 million a year in Japan, where he has managed the Chiba Lotte Marines. The last time he managed in the majors was 2002. Managing the Rangers, then the Mets, Valentine's career record was 1,117-1,072 — a .510 winning percentage.

Zduriencik said he won't begin interviewing candidates until early next week, and said Tuesday he hadn't yet asked any team for permission to talk to an employee.

• Boras: WHAT HARD TIMES? Super agent and self-styled wunderkind Scott Boras held court in the main lobby of the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, commenting on everything from the economic state of baseball to client Willie Bloomquist.

Not surprisingly, all his clients — he has 16 free agents on the offseason roster — are great players, and baseball teams are flush.

A bit of Boras from the afternoon:

On client Bloomquist: "He's a 30-team type player. All 30 teams could use a player like Willie."

On his highest-profile clients: "Players like Mark Teixiera and Manny Ramirez pay for themselves. They add revenue to TV contracts, radio contracts, attendance."