Wire Taps: Jim Riggleman Back On Washington Nationals' Bench?

Confirming what both Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore and MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported this weekend, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote yesterday, in an article entitled, "Riggleman likely to be back in D.C. in '11", that though the contract Jim Riggleman signed with the Washington Nationals contains a clause which would allow the Nats to buy their Skipper out at the end of the 2010 campaign, "The Nats don't plan to exercise that right". Mr. Rosenthal spoke to Mr. Riggleman's agent, Burton Rocks, who tells the FOXSports.com reporter, "'[Riggleman's] coming back next year...All indications are that there is not going to be a change.'" Mr. Rosenthal does note, however, that Mr. Rocks says, "...the Nats’ decision is not yet official; the team’s owners are scheduled to meet on Thursday."

Asked by a Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore this weekend, as reported in an article entitled, "Jim Riggleman likely to remain Nationals manager in 2011", if the fact that Riggleman remained the Nats' Skipper in spite of the team's struggles this season could be read into, the DC GM Mike Rizzo told reporters, "'Yeah...That's something you could read into,'" and MLB.com's Bill Ladson quoted Mr. Rizzo in an article entitled, "Riggleman receives praise from front office", explaining that, "'With the real turbulent year this year -- from the highs and the lows -- [Riggleman] has really balanced it out. He has respect of the clubhouse."

Following last night's deflating error-filled 8-2 loss the Houston Astros, which was played in front of the smallest crowd to watch the Nats in the nation's capital since baseball's return to D.C. in 2005, the Washington Nationals are now 62-88 in 2010, and 95-130 under Mr. Riggleman since he replaced Manny Acta on the Nats' bench in early July '09. The Washington Post's Mr. Kilgore noted that the Nats could buy Riggleman out at the end of this season for a relatively low $100,000 if they choose to do so. Mr. Rosenthal adds that Riggleman's contract also contains an option for 2012.