Nationals to offer Dusty Baker manager job
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 by late Sunday, though by that point multiple reports suggested the job was already Black’s. Black was given an offer several days ago, but word is, it was a very lowball bid, and the sides had been going back and forth since Thursday.
Black was said to still be in contact, exchanging proposals over the weekend with Nats people. However, there apparently was never agreement on a deal with Black, the ex-Padres manager.
Baker apears to have gotten back into the ballgame by Monday, and sources suggest the Nats are for now at least totally focused on Baker, the former Giants, Cubs and Reds manager.
The Nats have never been big payers when it comes to managers, as the Washington Post pointed out Monday. They prefer low dollars and especially short term.
Baker was making about $3.5 million with the Reds, a very robust figures for managers, so it’ll be interesting to see what Washington comes up with here. That’s not a figure they would ever pay a manager, based on past salaries.
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 team had keen interest in Baker from the start, so it was surprising they went to Black at one point.
More to come on this story as it develops.
In a surprise twist, Dusty Baker could be the next manager of the Nationals. (USATSI)
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