The Nationals’ hiring of Dusty Baker to manage Tuesday morning ended a behind-the-scenes soap opera that saw so many twists that at two different points during negoitiations, the job appeared to be going to another veteran skipper, Bud Black.
The Nationals get points for focusing on two of the most perfect fits for the veteran, ready-to-win team, and winding up with Baker, a proven winner with the Giants, Cubs and Reds. But it was a weird and wild ride after they narrowed a very fine field to two excellent candidates -- Baker, who last managed in 2013 with Cincinnati; and Black, who was fired in June after a nice eight-plus year run with the Padres.
While there was early word that some in the organization favored Baker and things appeared to be heading his way, according to Nats-connected sources, the initial salary discussions with Baker began with an immense gap, thus bringing Black back into the picture. It isn't known whether they made Baker the first official offer, but word is those early financial discussions with Baker at least opened the door for Black.
Then last Wednesday, the Nats told Black they would be making him an offer to become the team's manager, and soon after several media entities reported the job was going to be Black's. However, Black on Thursday was given only a one-year offer. That offer was reported by USA Today to have been for $1.6 million.
Black still wanted the job, but by early Friday, when the sides were still apart, he called to tell them he was bowing out. However, that wasn't nearly the end of it. Later Friday, according to sources, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo called Black to try to work things out, and the sides re-started talks.
Black and the Nats talked over the next couple days, with proposals and counterproposals exchanged. However, after Black, who had originally sought a three-year deal, didn't quickly accept their next offer and instead apparently countered it -- it is believed the Nats came off the straight one-year offer, and talked about offers with options and buyouts, and may have gotten up to two guaranteed years at some point -- the Nats then turned back to Baker.
Black was said to be awaiting a possible call from the team Monday to see where things stood. But he didn't hear from the team until around 9 p.m. his time (he lives in San Diego), when Rizzo is said to have called to tell him they were going in another direction, and to apologize for all the twists and turns.
Neither Black, Baker or Rizzo returned messages. CBS Sports reported late Monday that the Nationals were on the verge of hiring Baker, and the team announced the surprise hiring at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
Baker is said to have received a two-year deal, likely for at least $2 million per year, which is presumably well above what they originally discussed with Baker but still well below the approximately $3.5 million Baker made annually at his last stop in Cincinnati.
Baker had told the Nats in his two interviews that he is anxious to try to win his first ring as a manager -- he came within outs with the Giants in 2002 after winning with the Dodgers in 1981 as a player) -- and he was apparently willing to make sacrifices to get this job with such an excellent team. Baker, who called the Nats two years ago with interest when they instead hired his former player Matt Williams, sees the Nationals as a potential World Series winner, as do a lot of folks.
Many Nats people preferred Baker for his longer winning track record and proven ability to get the best out of superstars, as he did with Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, an important ability in that the Nats have arguably baseball's best and most talented player in Bryce Harper. Baker is a great choice for a number of reasons. The only issue is how they arrived at the choice.
The Nats are a first-class organization as far as the players go, but it’s somewhat surprising how little they dedicate to manager salaries. This is very likely an ownership stance, but it is certainly odd.
As the Washington Post pointed out, previous Nats managers generally have had two-year contracts -- not one, as Black received in an offer -- which is below the usual three-year standard. And Williams' disastrous year might not have made Nationals ownership feel any better about the worth of a manager.
Word is, Black, who also played for Baker in San Francisco, is very happy for him. But he surely has to wonder about a process that could become so soap operatic.
