The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles will ask former Hiroshima Carp manager Marty Brown to take over from outgoing skipper Katsuya Nomura, it was learned Friday.
Eagles officials are expected to fly to the United States in the coming days to enter formal negotiations to bring Brown to the Pacific League club. The 46-year-old American is expected to accept the offer as he is keen to remain in Japan.
Brown, who has an established reputation for developing young players, took over as Hiroshima manager in 2006 but was not offered a new deal for 2010 after the Carp failed to make the postseason.
The Eagles decided not to renew Nomura's contract, even though the 74-year-old guided the Sendai club to the Climax Series playoffs after posting a best-ever second-place finish in the PL.
After ending his playing career, Brown, a Carp third baseman from 1992-94, became manager of Triple-A Buffalo of the Cleveland Indians organization in 2003. He was named Baseball America's minor league manager of the year in 2004.