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