Nats' talks with Black reportedly hit snag; Baker back in play?

Though the Nationals were expected to announce this week that they had selected former Padres skipper Bud Black as their new manager, multiple reports tonight suggest that talks between the parties have hit a snag and that the team will move instead to hire Dusty Baker.

According to John Heyman of CBSSports.com, the reported deal between the Nats and Black has not been finalized and the team is thought to be turning its attentions to Baker, the former manager of the Giants, Cubs and Reds. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Nationals and Black have ceased talks, unable to come to an agreement, and that the club has reached out to Baker as a successor to the fired Matt Williams. Earlier today, TalkNats.com reported that a contract impasse was preventing the Nats from introducing Black.

According to Nightengale, the Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo offered Black the job on Wednesday and Black accepted. But when the sides started talking contract, the Nats wouldn't budge from a two-year offer reportedly for less than $2 million. Black wanted a longer term and more money. By contrast, the Marlins today introduced ex-Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly as their new manager after he agreed to a four-year deal worth $10 million.

Black, who was fired by the Padres in June with his retooled squad struggling to reach .500, agreed to become Washington's new manager last week. It was believed that the team was waiting for the end of the World Series to make an announcement, though the Nationals made no formal proclamation that they had selected Black.

Three of the five teams with offseason managerial openings have already announced their new hires. Former Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green was introduced as the new Padres skipper on Thursday, longtime major league catcher and recent Angels executive Scott Servais was introduced as the new Mariners skipper on Friday and the Marlins introduced Mattingly this morning. Only the Nationals and Dodgers have yet to fill their vacancies.

Besides Baker and Black, Rizzo also interviewed Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach, Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, Green and Diamondbacks Triple-A manager Phil Nevin. Of that group, only Black and Baker were called back for second interviews, which were reportedly conducted last Monday.

Williams, who won National League Manager of the Year honors in his rookie season of 2014, was relieved of his duties on Oct. 5 following a disappointing campaign during which the Nationals failed to repeat as NL East champions, finishing second to the eventual NL pennant-winning Mets. He was roundly criticized for a lack of communication within the clubhouse, for his handling of the bullpen and for his passive reaction to a dugout incident late in the season in which closer Jonathan Papelbon choked slugger Bryce Harper during an altercation.

Black, 58, never reached the playoffs during his nine seasons in San Diego and his clubs were above .500 only one season, in 2010, when they were eliminated from postseason contention on the season's final day. But multiple ownership changes, front office shakeups and less-than-competitive payrolls made it difficult for Black to compete with teams that had deeper pockets and more resources.

Baker, 66, has experienced significantly more success as a major league manager, taking all three of the clubs he's led in his 20-year career to the postseason and winning an NL pennant with the Giants in 2002, when he lost to the Angels in the World Series. He was fired by the Reds after losing the NL wild card game to the Pirates in 2013.