With 2016 option picked up, Williams gets back to business (with Rizzo comments)

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams led the first day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers on Saturday, just a short time after the club announced it had exercised its 2016 option on his contract.

That decision means Williams, who skippered the Nats to their second National League East title in three seasons and won NL Manager of the Year honors in his rookie campaign on the bench, will be with the club for at least two more seasons.

"I'm excited to be a part of the organization, and the fact that it got picked up, I'm honored to have that done. The organization is fantastic. They've supported all of us since the day that I arrived here and they continue to do so. I'm very pleased and excited for spring and beyond."

Now Williams can turn his focus to preparing the Nats for their divisional title defense without feeling like a potential lame duck - though the manager didn't sound as if managing in 2015 without a contract in place for the following season would have been an impediment for him.

"I don't know if I think about those type of things," he said. "What I think about is us getting out there, getting going and being good and winning ballgames. ...What I know is that I'm happy that it happened and I'm happy I'll be here through this year and next year, and I look forward to the challenge every single day. Beyond that, I don't think about it much."

During his first media availability of spring training, Williams was asked how the start of his second camp in charge was different than the first.

"I think I know the guys, the players, better - so that's easier," he said. "It doesn't change; we have the same objectives and we have a lot of work to do, a lot of preparing that goes into these six weeks. At least I know the guys and I can have that comfort level with them."

The Nationals also hold an option on Williams for the 2017 campaign, and Williams left little doubt that he likes the idea of a long-term future in D.C. Terms of Williams' deal, signed Oct. 31, 2013, have never been disclosed.

"Who wouldn't want to be a manager, and who wouldn't want be manager of this team?" he said. "That's fun."

Update: General manager Mike Rizzo just finished meeting with the media, and among the subjects he addressed was the announcement that Williams' 2016 option had been picked up.

"We want him to be around and he's a good manager and gives us some stability, and (the extension) shows how much we think that he's capable of leading us to where we want to go," Rizzo said.

The timing of the move, the GM said, means taking one more business item off the to-do list before camp gets in full swing.

"It's always good to know the manager is going to be around for a while, and he certainly has earned that right," Rizzo said. "I think the players respect him greatly and he's been a great leader for the organization."