Dusty Baker: "I've been in a must-win situation all my life"

NASHVILLE - Dusty Baker's casual media session at the Winter Meetings yesterday afternoon ended up filled with a hint of controversy, some bravado and the idea that the new Nationals manager is capable of making headlines even when he's not intending to.

The Nationals will be Baker's fourth managerial job after leading the Giants, Cubs and Reds to the playoffs. But Baker said yesterday that this Nats roster - even with the significant free agent subtractions - is "easily" the best he's been handed.

"When I took over the Giants, we were next to last," Baker said. "When I took over the Cubs, we were last. When I took over the Reds, I think we were last also. This is the best team I've ever inherited, and I'm hoping that we can sign the players that we have now and add to it."

Despite the Nationals coming off a disappointing 2015 campaign with a volatile end to the season, Baker doesn't see the job in Washington as challenging as those he's handled in the past.

"Throughout my managerial career, I've been fortunate enough and forced to try to do more with less," Baker said. "Now I always said I wanted to have a situation where I could do more with more, so I'm looking forward to it. I think our players are looking forward to it.

"According to the reports I've gotten, the city's looking forward to it. And there are a lot of people that are - at least they've told me that they're glad I'm back in baseball, and there are probably a few people, hopefully a few teams, that aren't glad that I'm back."

Even with the free agent departures of Ian Desmond, Denard Span, Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, and a chaotic bullpen situation, the Nationals still figure to be among the postseason favorites in the National League next season. The lofty expectations don't seem to bother the cool Baker.

"I've been in a must-win situation all my life," he said. "That's how I look at it. Other than one time out of 20 that I had more than a two-year contract. With San Francisco, the whole time I had two-year contracts. That's like I was at least in a must-win every other year. So it's like it's no big thing to me.

"People can apply pressure. I'm not going to apply pressure to myself. I don't think I'm must-win. I think I'm going to win."