Nationals hire Dusty Baker as next manager (updated)

In a bizarre turn of events, the Nationals hired Dusty Baker as manager this morning, agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract. After a reported deal with Bud Black imploded, general manager Mike Rizzo turned back to Baker, who had seemingly lost out on the job six days ago.

Baker's 1,671-1,504 managerial record in the majors ranks him as the 17th-winningest skipper in baseball history. The 66-year-old has been awarded National League Manager of the Year three times (1993, 1997, 2000). Baker guided the Giants, Cubs and Reds to the playoffs, but advanced to the World Series only once, losing with San Francisco in 2002.

"We were looking for a manager to help us achieve our ultimate goal of competing for a World Series championship," said Theodore N. Lerner, managing principal owner of the Nationals in a team-issued release. "During our broad search process, we met with many qualified candidates, and ultimately it was clear that Dusty's deep experience was the best fit for our ballclub."

Rizzo added in the team-issued statement: "I am so pleased to welcome Dusty Baker to the Nationals family. In getting to know Dusty and identifying what we wanted in the next on-field leader of our team, we are excited to have him on board."

"Dusty's experience, as a winning player, coach, and manager, is vast and varied. We are excited to bring him to Washington and put his steady demeanor, knowledge and many years in the game to work in our favor. I think I speak for the entire organization when I say I am very much looking forward to working with him."

Baker's dialogue with the Nationals began shortly after Matt Williams' dismissal on Oct. 5. He was one of seven candidates Rizzo and the Lerner family are known to have interviewed for the job, but only he and Black returned to D.C. for a second interview.

Baker told the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday that he first learned the Nationals chose Black over him from his wife and not the team.

"I was really disappointed," Baker said to the Chronicle. "But I was in a place for a couple of days where you can handle disappointment. It gave me strength. I'm happy for Buddy. I mean, Buddy played for me. But naturally, I don't think anyone would have been as good for the job as me. It seemed like a perfect fit. The town. The diversity of the races. People from all over the world."

Baker receives the opportunity to become the Nationals sixth manager and could be the lone African American skipper in the majors. With the announcement that Baker will manage the Nationals in 2016, only the Los Angeles Dodgers have not named a manager for next season.

The Nationals and Black reportedly reached an agreement last Wednesday but an official announcement was never made. Speculation had the Nationals just waiting for the World Series to clear center stage before bringing Black back to D.C. for a press conference.

But late Monday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Nationals never finalized an agreement with Black and the team was thought to be turning its attentions to Baker. USA Today's Bob Nightengale added that Rizzo offered the job to Black last Wednesday and Black accepted. However, once the financial terms were discussed, Black couldn't agree to the terms which reportedly guaranteed the former Padres skipper less than $2 million over only two years.

To understand Black's disappointment with the Nationals offer, just look to Miami where the Marlins recently hired Don Mattingly as manager with a four-year $10 million deal. The Nationals have a reputation for not paying their managers market value. Jim Riggelman bolted in the middle of a winning streak in 2011 after disappointment that a salary increase and extension from his $600,000 one-year contract could not be reached. The Nats will also be paying Williams through the 2016 season.

Before his managerial career, Baker was an accomplished major league outfielder for 19 years. He was named an All-Star twice, won two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. Baker was the MVP of the 1977 National League Championship Series and a World Series champion with the Dodgers in 1981.

Baker gets the opportunity to manage star slugger Bryce Harper in Washington, the latest in a line of premier players under his tutelage. Barry Bonds played for Baker in San Francisco, Sammy Sosa in Chicago and, most recently, Joey Votto in Cincinnati.

Baker is one of just six managers in major league history to win a division title with at least three teams, joining former Nationals skipper Davey Johnson, Billy Martin, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre, and Tony LaRussa, according to Elias.