Washington Nationals: 10 candidates to replace Dusty Baker
By Ron Juckett
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.