Nats hire former manager, GM McKeon as senior adviser

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

January 29, 2019, 6:01pm

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Always eager to add more experienced baseball lifers to his scouting staff, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has hired former big league manager Jack McKeon as a senior adviser.

McKeon's hiring, which has not yet been announced by the organization, was confirmed by a club source. It was first reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The 88-year-old McKeon has enjoyed a life full of notable baseball achievements, including 16 seasons as a major league manager and a decade as GM of the Padres. A two-time National League Manager of the Year Award winner, he led the Marlins to the 2003 World Series title.

McKeon Marlins Sidebar.jpg McKeon, who owns a career 1,051-990 record during six managerial stints with the Royals (1973-75), Athletics (1977-78), Padres (1988-90), Reds (1997-2000) and Marlins (2003-05, 2011), was GM in San Diego from 1980-90 and built that franchise's NL pennant-winning roster in 1984.

The Nationals have employed McKeon's son, Kasey, since 2009. He currently serves as director of player procurement.

Jack McKeon joins a Nats front office loaded with longtime scouts and baseball officials, including former major league managers Bob Boone, Dan Jennings, Bob Schaefer, Chuck Cottier and Mike Cubbage, and former pitching coach Pete Vuckovich.

The front office also includes 89-year-old senior adviser Phil Rizzo, father of the GM and a longtime baseball scout.