Bobby Valentine could be managing the Marlins as early as Sunday, according to various reports. And according to those various reports, he could be doing it under a four-year deal.

The former Mets and Rangers skipper confirmed himself that he was flying down to South Florida to interview with owner Jeffrey Loria and others on Friday.

A source "close to the negotiation" told ESPN's Tim Kurkjian that the Fish expect to offer him a 4-year deal to fill the vacancy left by Fredi Gonzalez' firing on Wednesday.

Edwin Rodriguez, the Marlins' AAA manager, has taken over in the interim, going 2-1 in the three-game series against Baltimore. Rodriguez is expected to keep the job through the next week or so as the Marlins head to Puerto Rico for a series against the Mets starting Monday.

Valentine, 60, got his start managing Texas, going 581-605 in just under eight seasons. His best years came in New York however, when he took the Mets to the NLCS in 1999 and the 2000 World Series, where they lost to the Yankees.

The Mets let Valentine go after the 2002 season. His record in New York was 536-467.

Valentine, currently an analyst for ESPN, interviewed for the Orioles managerial position earlier this month after they fired Dave Trembley.