Nationals To Hire Bud Black as Manager

Washington and the veteran manager agreed to a contract Wednesday, per James Wagner of the Washington Post, as Black will take over for the fired Matt Williams. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has confirmed Wagner’s report. He spent eight and a half years in San Diego and led the team to a 649-713 (.477) record. That proved to be an overachieving pace as the Padres finished the season 14 games below.500.

Black, considered one of the most respected managers in baseball, served as manager of the San Diego Padres from 2007 until he was sacked in May after a 32-33 start.

So far, the Padres have interviewed ESPN analyst Alex Cora, D-backs Minor League manager and former Padres third baseman Phil Nevin, Pirates third-base coach Rick Sofield, D-backs third-base coach Andy Green, Padres hitting coach Mark Kotsay, former Major League pitcher Tom Gordon and former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais (who has already been hired as the Mariners manager).

Randy Knorr, the Nationals’ former bench coach, who was recently promoted to senior assistant to General Manager Mike Rizzo, was also believed to be in the running. Listen to Chris” radio show, “The Download, ‘ Sundays at 7 a.m. on 106.7. Black also managed under notoriously frugal ownership in San Diego, only once managing a team in the top 20 of Major League Baseball payroll (2008; 19th). Baker, 66, impressed the Lerner family so much earlier this month that the Nationals asked him to return Washington on Monday for a second interview. They fired manager Matt Williams at season’s end and rumors over the past week suggested their next choice was down to two candidates.

Black will be tasked with restoring relationships in the clubhouse and leading the Nationals to the playoffs again after a disastrous 2015 season. With the Padres, Black was scrutinized for his struggles in developing young hitters and for never reaching the playoffs. That has more to do with the talent on the roster than Black’s shortcomings.

Black has been heralded as a “player’s coach” and brings an impressive pitching pedigree (both on the field and in the dugout) to the table, something the Nationals are in desperate need of. “Williams’ relationships with a few players frayed deeper into the season, and his handling of the pitching staff often was questioned”.

The shape of Black’s coaching staff is unclear.