Bobby Valentine returns to ESPN as analyst for league championships, World Series

Valentine to return to ESPN as baseball analyst

NEW YORK — Bobby Valentine is returning to ESPN as an analyst on “Baseball Tonight” for the league championship series and World Series.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the former New York Mets manager will assume a larger role in the 2010 season.

Valentine recently ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League.

The 59-year-old Valentine says he’s “been following major league baseball closely from afar, and look forward to delving back into those conversations.”

Valentine led the Mets to the World Series in 2000, where they lost to the Yankees in five games. He previously worked for ESPN in 2003.