The Nationals’ frugality may be the Dodgers’ gain. Managerial candidate Bud Black was an apparent frontrunner for the Washington gig until the two sides began talking money. Black was “deeply offended” by the Nationals’ one-year, $1.6 million offer. according to reports.
The offer was upped to two years and $2 million, ESPN reports, which Black also rejected. Black was the 2010 Manager of the Year, and spent eight-plus seasons as San Diego’s manager. He also finished third or better in the National League West in five of his nine seasons despite typically having one of MLB’s lowest-performing lineups, and playing in one of the NL’s most difficult parks to hit.
Don Mattingly: Keeping Greinke Is All Up To The Dodgers
His career record as a skipper (649-713) is sub-.500 and he never took the Padres to the postseason after taking over in 2007. Still, his experience is valued around the league and he has a reputation for working well with pitchers, which is the Nationals’ strong point.
It is also the Dodgers’ strength, provided they can bring right-hander Zack Greinke back this offseason. Black is now interviewing for the Los Angeles job.
Five Free Agents Set Up To Be Very Overpaid
Sources: #Dodgers plan to interview Bud Black for managerial opening. Team about halfway into process. As many as 10 interviews possible.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2015
Veteran skipper Dusty Baker agreed to a “multi-year” contract with the Nationals instead of Black, while ex-Dodgers manager Don Mattingly quickly landed a four-year deal with the Marlins. Black is among many candidates for the Dodgers job, but it seems he didn’t necessarily price himself out of work.The league-wide view, per The Washington Post, is that the Nats do a bad job of hiring managers to untenable deals. Sources told The Post the Nationals were a “laughingstock,” and a “dumpster fire,” for how they routinely lowball managers.
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
