Washington Nationals: Joe Girardi emerges as managerial candidate

Yesterday, it was announced that the Yankees will not bring Joe Girardi back, making him the most recent manager connected to the Washington Nationals.

Since the Washington Nationals surprisingly dismissed Dusty Baker last week, they have been connected to several managerial candidates. Yesterday, Jon Heyman reported that Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez was the front-runner for the Nats’ managerial vacancy, but then a new candidate emerged.

In what was perhaps an even more surprising move, the New York Yankees announced that Joe Girardi would not return in 2018. Girardi’s contract expired after the 2017 season, but he was just one win away from the World Series this year, so it was believed that he would return if he wanted to.

That was not the case, as Girardi wanted to remain in New York, but was let go. Now that Girardi is without a job, he could immediately become the Nats’ top candidate.

In Girardi’s ten seasons with the Yankees, he had a .562 winning percentage and led them to six playoff appearances, including a World Series title in 2009. He has been among the best managers in the league over the last ten years and is now a free agent with only a few other qualified candidates; this is a dream come true for the Nats.

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Girardi has had a lengthy career in professional baseball, both as a player and coach. He made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1989, and went on to play 15 seasons. He took a brief break after hanging up his spikes, but then returned to baseball as a coach.

In 2005, Girardi got his first major league coaching job as the Yankees’ bench coach under Joe Torre. After one season as the Yankees’ bench coach, he became the Florida Marlins’ manager in 2006.

With the Marlins, Girardi was named National League Manger of the Year, but was fired after the season. After being fired, he became one of the Nats’ top choices to replace Frank Robinson as manager, but declined to interview.

Girardi spent the 2007 season as a broadcaster, but then returned to coaching in 2008, becoming the Yankees’ manager. Now, after ten years managing the Yankees, he is without a job.

The Nats had plenty of suitors for their managerial vacancy, but none were even close to as qualified as Girardi. It is rare that you find a manager who just brought their team to within one win of the World Series looking for a job.

If the Nats are looking for experience, and they likely are, Girardi is their man. The question, however, will be whether or not the Lerners are willing to pay him.

Girardi’s last contract was for four years and paid him $16 million. That’s $4 million per year. Dusty Baker managed the Nats for just $2 million. Girardi was also extremely successful in New York, so he may ask for a raise.

The Lerners have a history of underpaying managers, so it is not a guarantee that they will be willing to pay Girardi. Jim Riggleman resigned in 2011 due to a contract dispute and the Nats reportedly had an agreement in place with Bud Black in 2015, but it fell through due to the Lerners not offering him enough.

Another potential issue with Girardi is that he reportedly made the Yankees’ clubhouse tense. The Nats have experienced this in the past with Matt Williams, and it ended terribly. If Girardi makes the Nats’ clubhouse tense, there could be a repeat of 2015.

There are several great qualities of Girardi, though. First of all, at 53, he will be capable of holding the job for years to come.

Girardi also has the reputation of being an enormous believer in hard work and has the tendency to be hard on his players, which could be what the Nats need. After another early postseason exit, Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell speculated that maybe the Nats don’t have the will to win.

It was reported that Dave Martinez was the front-runner for the Nats’ managerial vacancy, but Joe Girardi may have leap-frogged his way to the top after not being brought back in New York. He could be an excellent choice if the Nats hire him, but there are definitely a few factors that could keep him out of DC.

Next: Ryan Zimmerman's 2017 report card

Maybe Girardi is just what the Nats need. Maybe he’ll wreck the Nats’ clubhouse chemistry. Only time will tell.