Washington Nationals: 10 candidates to replace Dusty Baker

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As the Washington Nationals search for a new manager, here are 10 names to keep in mind. Some are obvious while others are a surprise.

The Washington Nationals are searching for a new leader to run the team.

They might hire an older manager with the hopes his wisdom carries the squad past the National League Divisional Series. The Nats could go with a first-time skipper and build for the future. Or, they can hire a big-name wild card and see where it goes. Whatever direction they go, fundamental changes are in store for 2018.

Because all the coaches were not given contracts, there is a huge chance the next manager comes from outside the Nats organization. He may have ties as a player or coach from before, unless they hire Rick Schu or Mike Maddux, expect the new hire having a healthy Washington learning curve.

Also, if history tells us anything, expect the new manager to sign a cheap contract. The Lerner family is spent-thrifty with coaches. Most of you remember the Bud Black fiasco.

Because of that, you can take a solid guess this manager is on the new side. If money was a factor in Dusty Baker’s dismissal, other older skippers are off the list. Although, the Nats can surprise people.

Given the chance to start fresh with a new coaching crew, the prudent move is hiring someone younger and for the long haul. He inherits a championship-caliber team with solid prospects for the future. With Mike Rizzo heading the front office and the Lerner family not afraid to spend on payroll, there is not a rebuild in the future. Even if Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy leave.

The new guy faces tremendous pressure. Washington insists it must win now and the fans anxiety climbs again after another short postseason.

Although there is no guarantee anyone in this article takes the job, here are 10 candidates the Nats might consider as their next manager.

JOHN FARRELL

The deposed Boston Red Sox manager will earn a hard look from the Nats.

Yet, John Farrell is a Dusty Baker-clone that suffers from bad in-game decisions and a clubhouse fighting with the world. He is not the person you want running Washington the next few years.

Yes, Farrell brought Boston three American League East crowns and the 2013 World Series. His other two years saw the Red Sox finish last. As with Baker, he is a player’s manager. But, he is slow to recognize locker room troubles.

A look back at his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays shows the same dysfunction with two fourth-place finishes. Over the last two years, the Red Sox went 1-6 in their ALDS games.

Farrell’s strength is in the front office, where he spent time with the Cleveland Indians, and as a pitching coach. With the Red Sox, he was effective in 2007 winning a World Series. If the Nats want to consider him for that role, he is a solid choice.

With his seven years at the helm, Farrell does not come cheap. His negatives outweigh the positives and he might decide a front office or bench coach position is his best option this season. Boston grinds through managers and spits them out. He might be simply fried.

JIM LEYLAND

Already coming out of retirement to guide Team USA to their only World Baseball Classic title this spring, Jim Leyland is an intriguing option of the Nats are looking for a short fix.

But, at 73, the chances of him going through the daily grind of another season are slim. His last MLB season came in 2013 with the Detroit Tigers. He won the AL Central, but fell to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. Five years is a long time to be away.

Leyland is not giving up retirement without serious money either. If the Nats pursue him, it is for one year. Good luck.

Combined with his recent WBC success, Leyland guided three squads to the World Series. He won it all with the Florida Marlins in 1997 and brought Detroit to two. His track record is tremendous.

Is there any desire to go through this? Even if Washington backed up a pair of Brinks trucks, Leyland has to get something out of the deal besides cash. A second championship might get him in the Hall of Fame. But, his overall record of 1769-1728 gives him a .506 winning percentage.

A Leyland hire is remote. An old-school manager away from baseball is a desperate hire. If the window slammed shut after 2018, it may make sense. Washington’s championship ambitions go beyond next year.

TONY LA RUSSA

Another old-school manager, Tony La Russa’s name popped up after he left his front office job with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Again, if the Nats wanted to use an old manager, they would have kept Baker.

La Russa last managed in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. His resume and revolutionary way of managing the bullpen are legendary. With the Cards, he guided St. Louis to two World Series and three NL Championships over 16 seasons. Over his 33-year career, he managed 128 playoff games. Experience is his friend.

Yet his time with the D’Backs was a disaster despite their NLDS appearance this year. La Russa is six seasons removed from the dugout and is 73. Again, any serious attempt to lure him back will cost millions. Sure, 14 postseason trips are intriguing. So is downing a can of whipped cream in one sitting.

As with Leyland, the talent is there to convince La Russa to push for another championship. But, he is already in the Hall of Fame. The man has nothing left to prove and carries a healthy amount of self-confidence.

Another one-and-done year for a manager is not what the Nats need. La Russa, even with another championship, is not sticking around a second year. If not outright retiring, a front office advisory role is his best bet.

CAL RIPKEN

A local legend and Rizzo’s preferred guy before Matt Williams signed, Cal Ripken may earn a closer look.

The son of a coaching legend and manager, the Baltimore Orioles megastar has no managerial experience of his own. He remains committed to youth baseball, teaching the game, and his native Maryland. He is no longer with Turner Broadcasting after many years of being an analyst. If he is interested, Washington will listen.

The Nats do not need a big name as a manager to sell tickets. When Ted Williams ran the Washington Senators in 1969, he guided a bad team to a .500 record. The 2018 Nationals are not a struggling club on the field and at the box office.

Although many names on this list are novice skippers, they have either minor-league managing, major-league coaching or both on their resume. Ripken has minor-league experience as an owner, not a coach. Also, he is such a major figure within the O’s organization that picturing him in another uniform seems impossible.

Still, at 57, Ripken is young enough to stay a few years if he wants. His lack of experience, however, is not what a team demanding to win now needs. When you consider the Orioles have not used him in their minor league system says volumes.

Chalk Ripken up in the possible, but not probable, category.

BO PORTER

Already familiar with the Nats, Bo Porter makes an intriguing candidate.

He has two years experience as a manager with the Houston Astros. Porter’s 110-190 record is chalked up to a team switching leagues and at the beginning of an impressive rebuild. At the moment, he is an assistant to the vacant general manager position with the Atlanta Braves and a running coach.

With the Nats, Porter coached third base. A position he held with the Braves for two years too. Because Atlanta is clearing the front office following the firing of general manager John Coppolella, Porter may look for work himself.

At 45, Porter checks off many boxes the Nats are after in finding a new manager. He has experience. His price is not outrageous. And, he is one who can commit to a long-term deal while winning now. Nice traits to have.

Do not let his Astros record fool you. Terry Francona and Joe Torre are two examples of managers who needed to find the right job before earning their legendary status. With a decade of coaching in the minors and majors, he has paid his dues.

Because of his three seasons with Atlanta, Porter has knowledge of the Nats first-hand. He knows the players and the personalities. Worth an interview, at least.

RON WASHINGTON

In eight years with the Texas Rangers, Ron Washington brought the club two AL pennants and within a Nelson Cruz misplay of a World Series championship.

He brings enthusiasm and spark to his teams while handling the in-game tactics well. You could compare his personality to Baker.

With the Rangers, Washington went 664-611. Aside from two AL West titles, he guided Texas to four runner-up finishes in the division including four straight 90-plus win seasons.

Not a spring chicken at 65, Washington is young enough to do three or four years without a problem. The third base coach for Atlanta currently, he coached twice with the Oakland Athletics. He carries experience in spades.

A former major-league infielder, Washington has a player-friendly reputation as a manager. The Braves interviewed him last year for their position until taking the interim off Brian Snitker’s title.

If Washington wants to manage again, the Nats offer an immediate trip to the playoffs for him. He has experience getting over the first-round hump and a team capable of earning him a championship.

As a former manager with success, Washington’s demands for salary will be high. But he carries the positive traits carried by Baker without the playoff baggage. Along with Porter, expect some team to seriously consider him.

EDUARDO PEREZ

Perhaps the biggest wild card on the list, Eduardo Perez has the chops to manage at a major-league level. Convincing him to leave ESPN is another story.

A baseball lifer, Perez has managed winter league teams to championships in Puerto Rico. He managed the Colombian team during the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Along with a stint as hitting coach with the Miami Marlins, he was a bench coach under Bo Porter in Houston.

As a child, he grew up watching his father Tony Perez as part of the Cincinnati Reds “Big Red Machine.” When the elder Perez moved to Montreal, the younger developed ties with the franchise.

A top analyst on ESPN’s baseball coverage in Spanish and English, Perez brings a special knowledge of the game to the table. Although he has no minor-league managing experience, his body of work as a player and coach qualify him for the job.

If the Nats want to hire someone for the long haul, Perez is an intriguing option. His salary is affordable. At 48, he brings a different perspective than the older names on this list.

The odds are long, but Perez can run a club. The question is would he leave television for the daily grind of managing? With Washington’s potential, this is a job he would consider.

HENSLEY MEULENS

Another name certain to draw interviews from teams this fall is Hensley Meulens.

Known as “Bam Bam” from his playing days with the New York Yankees, Meulens worked his way through the minor leagues as a coach until taking the hitting coach job with the San Francisco Giants in 2010. Three world championships later, at 50, he might be ready for top billing.

Under Meulens leadership, the Netherlands surprised the baseball world as they finished fourth in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. His only managerial assignment to date.

The transition from position coach to manager is daunting, but Meulens has been in pro baseball since 1986. In fact, he has ties to the franchise as a player. In 1997, he was a member of the Expos.

A speaker of five languages, Meulens intelligence is an immediate asset to the clubhouse. He has experience winning postseason series and is considered a top mind in the game.

Leaving a cushy job on the west coast is difficult, but the Nats are a good team. Although the pressure is there to advance, Meulens is the type of potential manager you can build a team around for years. If he can work with Pablo Sandoval, then Trea Turner is not a problem.

With many jobs open, Meulens is on a few shortlists. A solid interview with Washington puts him in prime position for the best team available.

PHIL NEVIN

Phil Nevin will be a major league manager in 2018.

After a decade as a player, Nevin worked his way through the minor leagues as a manager. Most recently, he ran the Triple-A Reno Aces, Arizona’s top farm club, for two years with a winning record. At the moment, Bruce Bochy has him stashed as the Giants third base coach.

Of all the younger names on the list, Nevin has the most managerial experience. The Astros interviewed him in 2014 before handing the job to A.J. Hinch. Most of 2016, many expected Nevin to run the Diamondbacks replacing Chip Hale.

This is the winter he breaks through.

At 46, he is what the Nats are after. A young manager capable of building a career in a market hungry for a championship. Salary should not be an issue. Washington offers success off the bat, something Philadelphia cannot promise.

A protégé of Bochy, both as a player and coach, Nevin brings instant credibility wherever he goes. With the Nats, he has the chance to build on that.

Of all the candidates on this list, Nevin has the best chance to land the job. The Nats are after a younger guy who has managed before. He has eight years of experience, a lifetime compared with others.

SANDY ALOMAR

Another manager in waiting, Sandy Alomar is a solid candidate with a tremendous resume.

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A successful catcher with the Cleveland Indians during their run in the 1990s, Alomar has spent the last eight seasons with Cleveland as a coach or interim manager. He was a finalist countless times for other positions, the Nats can hit a home run by bringing him on board.

A first base coach for Terry Francona, Alomar has helped revitalize the Indians back into contention and nearly a championship. Do not let his reassignment from bench coach to first base fool you a couple years ago. Francona and Brad Mills are best friends and Francona wanted him back after Mills was fired in Houston.

As a good catcher, six All-Star games qualify, Alomar’s role in quarterbacking the infield and calling pitches gave him immeasurable experience. Although Alomar does not have Nevin’s minor-league pedigree, the fact he is sought after and Cleveland’s success makes him valuable.

When given the chance, Alomar will shine. What may hold the Nats back is a lack of managerial experience outside of the last week of the 2012 season. Again, salary is not a roadblock.

Next: Napoli a fit?

Recent playoff success and being a member of a Francona staff work in Alomar’s favor. The Mets scarfed Mickey Callaway as their new skipper. Callaway was the pitching coach responsible for helping Corey Kluber and the rest of the staff along. Alomar might be the second coach this off-season to merit a promotion.

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