During the World Series, it was reported that the Washington Nationals were going to name former San Diego Padres manager Bud Black as their new manager.
Now, just about a week later it appears that the Nats have a change of heart and they will be instead looking to bring Dusty Baker in as their new manager.
Following from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
In a stunning twist, the Nationals manager job wasn’t as completely settled as was reported, and word is, the club has reached out to Dusty Baker and will offer him the job.
While it has been widely reported that Bud Black was the guy, Baker is now very likely to be the one to succeed Matt Williams as Nats manager.
Nats people were said to be leaning toward Baker even over the weekend, though multiple reports suggested the job was already Black’s. Baker is seen as someone who can handle superstars, so he’d fit with the Nats, who have arguably baseball’s best player in Bryce Harper. Baker previously managed Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa with much success.
The Nats were said to have been in talks with Black, but word is, nothing had ever been settled, despite the reports. The team had keen interest in Baker from the start.
Baker hasn’t managed in the MLB since 2013 but he’s stated on previous occassions that he wants to get back into managing in the MLB. He was a part of playoff coverage for Fox Sports during the postseason and World Series and he looked as healthy as ever.
Baker’s career mark as a manager for 20 years in the MLB stands at 1671-1504 with one NL pennant back in 2002 with the San Fransisco Giants.
