Yokohama BayStars owner Kiyoshi Wakabayashi paid a visit to Yomiuri Giants owner Takuo Takihana on Monday to tell him about the team's intention to offer Giants pitching coach Takao Obana the manager's job.
Takihana formally accepted the request for Obana, who still has a contract remaining with Yomiuri for next season. An announcement will likely be made in the coming days.
"Our team needs to fortify our pitching from scratch," Wakabayashi said of the BayStars, who came in last place for the second year in a row. "We were looking for a manager who can also coach pitchers."
If Obana accepts the offer, he will replace acting manager Tomio Tashiro to manage a team for the first time in his career. Tashiro took over from Akihiro Oya in May when the BayStars got off to a rocky 13-24 start.