ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine has thrown his hat into the ring for consideration to replace Lou Piniella as manager of the Chicago Cubs next year.Valentine, who has managed for the Texas Rangers and New York Mets in the past, called the Cubs' managing job "one of the most coveted positions in all of sports."
Piniella announced that he would retire at the end of 2010 this week, setting off a swirl of speculation about who will take over on the North Side in 2011.
"Anybody who thinks of himself as a manager would love to be considered as one of the people who might take his place," said Valentine, in town to do ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball telecast for the finale of a three-game series between Chicago and St. Louis.
Valentine, who most recently managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, appeared all but set to take over as manager of the Florida Marlins last month after Fredi Gonzalez was let go, but a breakdown in the negotiations prevented the consummation of a deal.




