Cards hire Maddux; Rendon and Taylor Gold Glove finalists

In electing last week not to bring back Dusty Baker as manager, the Nationals also informed their entire coaching staff their fates would not be determined until a new skipper was hired. Thus, those six men were free to talk to other clubs in the interim and pursue any opportunities made available to them.

Today, Mike Maddux seized an opportunity. The Nationals' popular pitching coach of the last two seasons has taken that role with the Cardinals, ensuring his former club will have another high-profile position to fill in the coming weeks.

Maddux was brought to Washington independent of Baker two seasons ago, hired away from the Rangers with a two-year contract not previously offered to any members of this franchise's coaching staff. The former big league right-hander and brother of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, he would have served as the Nationals' pitching coach regardless of their choice of manager, which shortly after became Baker.

Baker afforded Maddux extensive authority over his pitching staff, from establishing the rotation's schedule to in-game usage decisions. The soft-speaking, quick-witted coach immediately endeared himself to Nationals pitchers and helped elevate the performances of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and several others.

Though there was some thought Maddux might return to serve on the new manager's staff - or perhaps even be considered himself for the managerial job - the 56-year-old was highly coveted once he became available late last week, with as many as five clubs interested in his services, according to USA Today.

Thus, the Nationals not only are now searching for their third manager in four years but also their third pitching coach in that same span. They enjoyed continuity in that role during the franchise's first nine seasons in town, with Randy St. Claire (2005-09) and Steve McCatty (2009-15) each surviving at least one managerial change.

Among the other members of Baker's staff, third base coach Bob Henley and hitting coach Rick Schu are most likely to remain in the organization in some capacity, given their longstanding ties to the franchise. Bench coach Chris Speier, first base coach Davey Lopes, bullpen coach Dan Firova and assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones (who was suspended with pay shortly before the start of the postseason) all joined the staff with Baker two years ago and are likely headed elsewhere.

Meanwhile, two members of the Nationals lineup were named Gold Glove Award finalists today, with Anthony Rendon and Michael A. Taylor earning the honors.

Rendon was named a finalist for the National League award for third basemen, along with the Rockies' Nolan Arenado and the Pirates' David Freese. This is Rendon's second straight nomination; he lost out to Arenado in 2016.

Rendon has a statistical argument to win the award this time around. His .979 fielding percentage tied Arenado for tops among all major league third basemen, and FanGraphs rated him the best overall defensive player at the position by a longshot.

Taylor earned his first nomination for the NL award for center fielders, joining the Braves' Ender Inciarte (last year's winner) and the Reds' Billy Hamilton.

Taylor has a statistical case, as well. FanGraphs rated him the second-best defensive center fielder in the majors, behind only the Twins' Byron Buxton. His eight assists ranked second only to Hamilton's 13.

Gold Glove Awards are based on a combination of voting by managers and coaches from each league as well as statistical data. Winners will be announced Nov. 7.