The Nationals became the latest team with a managerial vacancy last Friday when they announced that skipper Dusty Baker would not return for a third season with the team. The Nats have traditionally shown little penchant for hesitation when it comes to shuffling the dugout mix, as evidenced by the fact that they’re now seeking their fourth manager since the 2011 season. No manager has lasted more than three years at the helm in D.C. since the franchise moved there from Montreal.
It’s not yet clear how many candidates the Nats plan on interviewing, but we’ll track the candidates and update accordingly here in this post as they come to light.
Finalists
- Dave Martinez is a finalist to land the job, according to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. It’s unclear whether anyone else is still in the mix, Janes adds (Twitter links).
Latest Updates
- John Farrell interviewed for the job today, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). As with previous reports, Rosenthal also hears that Dave Martinez is considered the favorite to be Washington’s next manager.
- It is “not likely” that the Nationals have interest in former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). One of the reasons is that the Nats traditionally don’t pay large salaries to managers, and Girardi would certainly command a notable commitment — his just-completed contract with the Yankees was a four-year deal worth $16MM.
Will Interview/Have Interviewed
- Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post tweets that the Nationals have received permission from the division-rival Mets to interview hitting coach Kevin Long for the position. Long, who has spent the past three seasons as the Mets’ hitting coach and held the same post for the Yankees in the seven preceding years, was reportedly a finalist in the Mets’ search. However, the Mets ultimately selected Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway as their new skipper.
- The Nats are interviewing Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez today or tomorrow (Oct. 26/27), Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reports on Twitter. (Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post first reported Martinez would interview.) The 53-year-old Martinez has previously interviewed for the position in 2013, Castillo notes, before the Nats elected to go with Matt Williams. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times further reports that Martinez came quite close to being named Nationals manager after Williams was dismissed, but ownership decided late in the process that a candidate with prior MLB managerial experience was needed. Wittenmyer writes that some within the industry consider Martinez the favorite this time around, which Jon Heyman of Fan Rag echoes. Martinez has spent a decade as Joe Maddon’s bench coach, dating back to 2008 with the Rays. Martinez spent parts of 16 seasons in the Majors as an outfielder, including four with the Expos before the franchise moved to Washington, D.C.
I wouldn’t manage the Nats without receiving at least a four year contract
The Lerners will gladly oblige that if the AAV is $400,000 or less.
a 4 year contract deferred over 20 years
LOL!!!!!!
Lol
Bobby Bonilla Style
you would manage them on a half year contract if given the chance and thats a fact.
Nats would be lucky to land Martinez. He is overdue to have his shot at managing at the major league level.
They should hire Bobby Bonilla he would love that
I lol’d.
I laugh out louded too!
If he gets it David Ross replaces him
I actually like that idea
Is David Ross ready to take on that 162 game grind already? It seems like he wanted to spend more time with family. He’d be great and I’d love to see that!
Money talks but we will see.
Former catchers make for some of the best managers with their knowledge of all facets of the game. David Ross in particular would seem to be a fine candidate as an MLB manager at some point down the road.
I actually think the same thing. The old baseball adage, “you need to work your way up the ranks” hopefully doesn’t fit here. Ross is well liked by the players, has Joe’s admiration. Joe actually stated at one point that he believes Ross would make a great manager one day, plus remember he will be 41 before the beginning of next season, so Age wise seems appropriate for the position
I see Mike Maddox getting the Job
Garry’s brother? Or son? Family ties are tight in baseball.
Haha
Elliott’s kid.
4 Days ago, that was a good thought……but yesterday the Cardinals swooped in and hired Maddux as their Pitching Coach.
Good move for him….Great Move for the Cardinals!
Interesting…….for some reason, Martinez was not a candidate for any open position.. He never was mentioned as a candidate for the Red Sox, Mets or Tigers positions. When the Nats realized they could get him without a bidding war, I wonder if that was the trigger not to resign Dusty.
He interviewed for the Tigers job and was one of the 10 finalists from their initial list of 50.
Tiger fan wishing they would have hired Dave.
I would say “good thought,” jints1, except that reports seem to suggest that once again the Nats will be hiring their #2 choice, at best…. there’s some assumption here, but it would seem likely that Cora made so much of an impact on Rizzo back-when that he was the #1.
Personally, I was in Martinez’ corner last time. But this time, I’m a biased former Astros fan (couldn’t stomach following them to Artificial League version of the game) who would love nothing more than to see Brad Ausmus get the job.
Looks, though, like it’s Martinez’ job to lose now.. Of course, Bud Black proved that it is possible to lose a job that was yours to lose when you’re interviewing with this club’s leadership.
My darkhorse candidate is someone who has won a WS and who has the Dbacks history that Rizzo seems to prefer… and who might not be too bothered by the prospect that this could be a 1-year commitment since he can always go back to broadcasting if he wants….
Bob Brenly.
The Lerner’s really messed up on that Black hiring. They made an announcement that they had hired him before they even discussed salary with him and then low balled him. If you are cheaper than the Padres in what you pay managers you are not going to win WS rings.
Yea sure they fired Dusty Baker because they thought they could hire someone without a bidding war and then bam a week later they get around to actually asking Martinez to interview. They fooled everyone. Come on.
The Good Gruden
He is not my top choice, that would be Sandy Alomar, but I definitely would not be disappointed with Dave Martinez
Sandy Alomar would be a fine choice for the Nats, as would Dave Martinez. I also like Bob Brenly, the “dark horse candidate” suggested by _sturt_.
I’m tired of this lame narrative that the Nationals don’t pay a ton for managers. The top paid guys in the league have either won rings or been with their teams for 5+ years. Dusty was paid $2 million in 2017, better than more than half the managers in the game. When the Nats hired him, no one else wanted him. I understand he thought he was worth more, but as in life, you are only worth what people are willing to pay you.
It’s not lame if it’s true.
Joe would be a great manager for the Nationals, but they’re cheap.
After matt Williams and the dusty debacle maybe they should open up the checkbook.
Only 30 available jobs so team will always find willing managers for chump change that Nats pay
I’m rooting for Martinez. That guy is long overdue and he’ll make a great manager.
And he has something the Nats want, a ring
I’d like to see Martinez finally get a job. It’d be interesting to see what he can accomplish after working under Maddon for so long
It’s stupid, they get these winning seasons but kicked them to the curb
Bob Brenly seems like a good guy & he knows the game, no question. But he is not a good manager. Alex Cora clearly was the top candidate out there. Davey Martinez must not interview well.
Not a good manager? He won a World Series in 2001. I’m sorry, but that makes him “good,” at the very least.
A manager can win a World Series without being good. A coach in any major sport can win if they have the talent. Ned Yost, hello.
To LaRussa? Would be nice to see him do what he does best.
Would that be enable PED Abuse or Headhunting???
Yes.
By the way: if that Retire 21 is in reference to the Great Roberto, Count me in!!!
You mean drinking?
Worth including that Kevin Long is effectively not under contract. He is a “free agent” on November 1st, so getting permission from the Mets is just a formality. He can go anywhere or do anything
I assume they still have to “get permission” if it’s before November 1st but I don’t think any team would say no due to the bad press they would probably get.
The Nats aren’t giving the position to a rookie manager. They’ve been through 3 managers since 2011. They can’t afford to swing and miss with this next hire. It won’t be Martinez. He seems to be the favored minority interview every time a position opens up.
Voice, that may be. But it also is true that the field of experienced managers also offers no sure thing. There so far has only been two candidates come to light, and NEITHER of them bring any top-guy experience to the table. That suggests to me that the attitude really discounts the experience factor.
Over the past 2 years I’ve started to question whether or not teams actually care about previous managerial experience.
No experience? How’s that working out for the Dodgers and Dave Roberts? NLCS two years in a row…
There are exceptions to every rule…
That happens when your team spends historic amounts of money on player payroll. My grandmother could manage the Dodgers to NLCS and she has been dead since 1993.
Let’s see how he would do with an average payroll team.
Just who is left out there to manage the Nats? Not many good ones left. Good luck finding someone who will put up with a no contract like Baker had.
Apparently a top 8 annual manager salary was a no contract
As much as I like Martinez, this isn’t time for a rookie manager. The Nats are ready to win NOW.
I know Martinez comes from a great mentor (Maddon), and a great winning franchise (the Cubs — under Theo), but stepping up to the #1 position is a big step.
A lot of guys do great as the underboss, but then find themselves extremely overwhelmed as “THE boss.”
If I’m Rizzo, I’m finding an experienced guy. It isn’t worth the risk.
Go hire Lou Pinella then lol. All of the good “experienced” managers aren’t looking for jobs, they already have ’em.
One manager with an excellent resume “Just Became Available”……
Joe Girardi has a job?? News to me. If I was the Nats’ GM, that would be my pick.
It’s too bad that the Cubs won’t make the “experienced” Joe Maddon available to manage the Nationals and just keep Dave Martinez and promote him as their next manager. The Cubs will rue the day that they let Rick Renteria go in favor of the more experienced “Genius” they replaced him with.
Aaron … or moron … the Cubs will “rue the day” huh? Sure smart guy as soon as they are done polishing their World Series trophy!!!
Perhaps. But come 2020 or so I’ll wager my money on the White Sox over the Cubs with Rick Renteria managing the South Side team and if Joe Maddon is still fortunate to be running the one on the North Side…and this is coming from a 61-year old die-hard fan of both Chicago teams since the early 1960’s.
Maddon has managed the Cubs to three straight playoff appearances and a Championship in his short time with the team. To even think about replacing him at this point shows incredible ignorance and borderline insanity on the part of Cubs fans. The Cubs’ poor pitching and timely hitting by star players kept them out of the WS, not Maddon. That’s a personnel issue.
Agree. These Maddon haters are genuinely an odd and almost obsessive bunch. But it’s hilarious to watch. Lol.
Maddon is the most overated manager in MLB !
No, he’s not. I think three straight NLCS appearances (and one World Series Championship) since he came to the Cubs is pretty good. Just another hater. Lol.
I’m guessing that Dave Martinez will get the job. It’s too bad because I’d rather he be the Cubs manager. It will be interesting to see how much the Nationals low-ball their offer to him since he hasn’t been a manager before. It will also be interesting to see how he fares with a stacked team in 2018 assuming good health, including the return of Adam Eaton who missed virtually the entire 2017 season.
As I post, the Nationals have a better team on paper than the Cubs, especially when it comes to their starting rotation. With Bryce Harper likely departing as a free agent following the upcoming season this may be the Nats best opportunity to finally advance beyond the first round in the playoffs and finally win a championship. That being said, the Nationals will still have many key veterans on board following the 2018 season and also have some talented younger players in Trea Turner and Victor Robles.
It’s Dave Martinez!
And your source is?
What about Joe Girardi
I’m sure Girardi’s name will come into play in the next couple of days.
It’s Martinez my money says. The others are shills to get his salary demands down. Lerners are hoping they can land him for 300,000 a year and a 50k bonus if they win the World Series
Here’s a Crazy thought…………If The Nats hire a Manager with little or no experience….they could be doing it for 1 of these reasons………(or some other reason)
1. They’re saving money that they’ll need to acquire 1 or 2 Top Notch players….and “Make One last Push” towards a World Series Title. Harper and Murphy will be gone after 18, and this is their last chance with them on the team.
2. They certainly could take a completely different path (although I don’t think they will)…..and hire an unproven manager, then just “Blow Up The Team”….and enter a short Re-Build. Harper, Murphy. Gio G., Rendon, Zimmerman, and Eaton are all eligible for Free Agency by the end of the 2019 Season (yes that’s 2 years away, but they’ll get the most value in return). Maybe, just maybe……they trade away all of those assets for a huge return of Top Prospects…………………………..Imagine the Haul? No Tanking…..Just a Rebuild.
a) They’d still have Turner, Difo, Goodwin, Taylor, Robles, Severino. Maybe they extend Rendon. If not, they have a couple 3B’s in the minors…..but NO 1B’s.
b) Scherzer, Strasburg, Ross, A.J. Cole, and Fedde could still be in the rotation. Doolittle has options thru 2020. Romero, Solis, Glover, and Grace thru 2021.
Thry should try to upgrade at 2nd maybe Brandon Phillips. Or someone like him.
I’m still trying to figure out why a team ripe to get to the World Series next year is interested in a rookie manager. If they were rebuilding I totally get it.
*IF* they hire Martinez then the Nats owners are as cheap as everyone makes them out to be.
Looks like Dave Martinez is the new manager for the nationals. Wade Boggs is the one who broke the news. Bring on David Ross as the cubs bench coach.
If true, good. Dave Martinez has been deserving of a skipper’s spot for awhile now.
I agree. This opens up the gate for grandpa rossy as the bench coach if he wants it. The players love him. It would open up opportunities for a managerial career later as well.
Looks like it’s Martinez;
link to msn.com
“The Washington Nationals have found their next manager, according to a report.
FOX 5 in DC’s Brody Logan reported on Saturday that Martinez will be the Nats’ next manager. He says the announcement will not be made until after the World Series.”
Good move means Farrell and so on not Managing this year if don’t get Phil’s Job.
I hear Fredi Gonzalez is available