Matt

Williams

It’s not exactly unexpected. Washington had the 2015 National League MVP (Bryce Harper) and an ace who tossed two different no-hitters (Max Scherzer), but the club finished seven games back of the NL East-champion Mets with a record of 83-79. Williams was never very good at in-game strategy and seemed to lose the clubhouse at the end of his two-year tenure. His entire coaching staff was also dismissed. This will be a very attractive vacancy.

Matt Williams was fired Monday morning after a tumultuous 2015 season in Washington. Ripken had serious talks with the Nationals before they hired Williams in 2013 and the Orioles legend has maintained a very close relationship with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. This could really happen. Ripken, 55, has stated in the past that he’s interested in managing and there’s not a more attractive opening in baseball at the moment.

Both Black and Dusty Baker received second interviews with the Nats on Monday, but it’s Black that looks to be general manager Mike Rizzo’s likely choice. Wagner says that a decision is expected to come before the end of the week. Black managed the Padres for nine seasons and was the National League Manager of the Year in 2010.

The Nats have reportedly narrowed their managerial search down to two, Black and Dusty Baker. It’s unclear when Baker will receive his second interview. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo is on the hunt for an experienced manager to lead his club after the failure of first-time skipper Matt Williams.

The Nationals seem like they’re nearing a conclusion to their managerial search, and could name with Baker or Bud Black as their next skipper before the end of the week. Baker hasn’t managed since he was last with the Reds during the 2013 season.

It’s quite a turn of events, as it was widely reported last week that Black was the Nationals’ guy. However, Heyman hears that “there were believed to be contract issues” with the former Padres skipper. Now, Heyman says the club has reached out to Baker and plans to offer him the job. Black and Baker had been viewed as the frontrunners for the gig for a while, and Heyman notes that the Nats “liked Baker very much from the start.” Still, it’s shocking that it appears Washington might not end up with their No. 1 choice.

Heyman reported last week about a possible interview for Black, and he’s confirmed that it will indeed happen. General manager Mike Rizzo has indicated that he’d prefer to hire a manager with experience, and Black certainly fits the bill. He managed the Padres for nine seasons and was the National League Manager of the Year in 2010.

The Dodgers recently let manager Don Mattingly go and gave his staff permission to seek other opportunities, so there likely wouldn’t be any holdup if the Nats wanted to hire Wallach. Andy Green, Ron Wotus, Bud Black and a handful of other candidates have also interviewed for the Nationals’ opening.

A previous report from the Washington Post noted that Black and Baker would be called back for second interviews, and Heyman says they are “believed to be the only two finalists for the coveted job.” General manager Mike Rizzo is eyeing an experienced skipper after previous manager Matt Williams flopped in his second year on the job. Black and Baker have a combined 29 years of managerial experience and four Manager of the Year awards between them.

It’s clear that the club plans to hire someone with plenty of experience after Matt Williams flamed out, and both Black and Baker would certainly fit the bill. Ron Gardenhire, Tim Wallach, Ron Wotus, Andy Green and Phil Nevin have also interviewed for the desirable post, but Black and Baker are the only ones that have been given a second look to this point.