Bobby V to interview for Marlins managerial opening

Bobby Valentine will interview with the Florida Marlins this weekend for their managerial opening, after the Marlins fired fourth-year manager Fredi Gonzalez Wednesday.

The former Mets manager told Newsday, in an e-mail, that he did indeed have interest in managing Florida. Earlier Wednesday, he told ESPN - for whom he currently works, as a baseball analyst - that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for the Orioles' managerial opening.

It's not clear how quickly the Marlins will decide - Edwin Rodriguez currently is serving as the team's interim manager - but in an interesting twist, Florida plays the Mets in a three-game series starting Monday, in Puerto Rico.

Valentine, 60, has to be considered the leading candidate for the job at this point. Since returning from Japan, where he managed the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2005 through 2009 (and also previously in 1994), he has interviewed with Cleveland, Washington and Baltimore.

This Marlins opening might present the best fit for Valentine because of his longtime relationship with Florida owner Jeffrey Loria, the allure of Miami and the Marlins' long-term viability in a winnable National League East with a new stadium coming in 2012. Valentine's deal with ESPN allows him to leave for a managing job.

In 15 seasons as a major-league manager - 1985 to 1992 with Texas, and 1996 to 2002 with the Mets - Valentine posted an 1,117-1,072 record. He managed the Marines in 1994 and from 2004 through 2009. He remains extremely popular among Mets fans because of his colorful personality and' playoff runs in 1999 and 2000.

The Marlins are 35-36. Gonzalez, 46, compiled a 276-279 record with the Marlins after replacing Joe Girardi after the 2006 season. Gonzalez now becomes a leading candidate to replace the Braves' Bobby Cox, who will step down after this season.