Bobby Valentine may or may not be named the next Red Sox manager sometime in the near (or not-so-near) future. If he is, he won’t have much free time left to travel. So that might be one of the reasons Valentine reportedly visited Japan on Monday, to stay busy until he hears back from the Red Sox about their managerial opening.
Valentine visited a hospital in Sendai, Japan and then later was a guest at a charity event in Tokyo to raise money at the Major League Baseball Cafe, according to the New York Times. Hundreds of fans paid $50 to hear Valentine talk and were curious about whether or not he was going to be the next Red Sox manager.
According to the Times, Valentine was reluctant to discuss the Red Sox’ managerial opening, but did say it was an “anxious time for him” as he waits to hear back from the ballclub.
The moderator at the charity event also asked the crowd at one point if they thought Valentine should get the job, and they applauded loudly to indicate their support.
Valentine reportedly admitted that he had no information about when the Red Sox were planning to make their final decision. Along with Gene LaMont, Valentine is considered to be one of two finalists for the job.
