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Wire Taps: Nationals' managerial search continues - Bud Black, Phil Nevin, Dusty Baker + more

All the links that are fit to print from the last 24 hours in NatsTown, where the Washington Nationals began interviewing candidates for their managerial opening. Plenty of names out there on the internet on Tuesday. Rumors + more below...

By Patrick Reddington
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

You want names? Tuesday afternoon a number of names came out (at least more officially than before) as the Washington Nationals' search for a new manager continued. Some have interviewed. Some will. Some have interest in the opening. Some are persons of interest for the Nationals...

None of them were new, or surprising. It's basically the usual suspects for every available managerial gig in the majors.

There's Phil Nevin, a former major leaguer and current Triple-A manager in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system.

"We’re gonna immediately begin the process... and continue painstakingly until we have a manager under contract that we think is going to bring us a World Series championship in 2016 and beyond." -Mike Rizzo on the Nationals' search for their next manager

Then there's Ron Gardenhire, who managed the Minnesota Twins for 13 years from 2002-2014.

Dusty Baker? Check. San Francisco Giants' bench coach Ron Wotus? Yep.

The Nationals have expressed interest in Bud Black as well and the former San Diego Padres' skipper will reportedly interview for the job as soon as this week.

GM Mike Rizzo told reporters in a conference call after Matt Williams' dismissal last Monday that the search for his succcessor would begin immediately, that afternoon, and continue until the Nationals had thoroughly vetted the candidates interested in becoming the Nats' seventh manager since 2005.

"We’re gonna immediately begin the process of the search of the manager," Rizzo said.

"It will start this afternoon here in the front office and continue painstakingly until we have a manager under contract that we think is going to bring us a World Series championship in 2016 and beyond."

Former GM Jim Bowden wrote on Tuesday about where the Nationals find themselves right now and if they should be all in this season or at the start of a reboot/retooling.

Which way do you think he leaned?

Bowden on the Nationals:

• "My suggestion: Go for it. This is still a good team. The window to compete for a championship is still open, and to not go for it would be a mistake." - "Bits: Nats debating offseason approach; plus managerial candidates" - Jim Bowden, The GM's Office - ESPN

About all those candidates for the Nationals' managerial opening:

• "The Nationals are expected to interview Dusty Baker and Ron Gardenhire for the managerial opening, according to two baseball sources." - "Nationals may interview Baker, Gardenhire" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com

• "The Nationals have interest in former Padres manager Bud Black and Giants longtime bench coach Ron Wotus for their managerial vacancy, according to people familiar with the situation." - "Nationals have interest in Bud Black and Ron Wotus; Phil Nevin interviews" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "The Nationals might want an experienced candidate after dismissing the up-and-down Matt Williams after two years on the job as a beginner and Black qualifies..." - "Former Padres manager Bud Black interviewing for Nationals’ job" - Jeff Sanders, SanDiegoUnionTribune.com

• "According to a report from USA Today, Phil Nevin, who has never managed past Triple-A, recently met with Rizzo about the opening." - "Nationals Pastime: Nationals reportedly interview Phil Nevin" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

NATS BEAT: Roster reviews, Rendon still not changing

• "Michael Taylor wasn’t supposed to play a major role for the Nationals in 2015. He wasn’t even supposed to reside on the big-league roster the entire season." - "Roster review: Michael Taylor" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "With Ian Desmond most likely lost to free agency, Escobar could move to shortstop, the position he played primarily in his nine-year career." - "Nationals Pastime: Anthony Rendon tested by 'brutal' season" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "Tyler Clippard’s departure left a gaping hole in the back end that no one ever filled." - "Nationals positional review, part 2: The bullpen" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

AFL UPDATES: Nationals' prospects begin action in Arizona

• "Keister has at least eight left-handed hitters in the lineup with several power hitters, including his own third baseman, Drew Ward. Chris Bostick will play second base." - "Salt River Rafters open season tonight in Arizona Fall League" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Bostick - 0 for 4, 1 R, 2 SB; Bacus - 1.0 IP, 2 Ks, 18 P, 9 S - Box Score: Salt River 5-3 over Scottsdale

NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Wild Thing on Papelbon? I'd read that...

• "He also believes Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was out of line in his late season confrontation with outfielder Bryce Harper." - "Fomer Major Leaguer Williams talks Carter, closers, Utley" - Ken Rodney, TSN

• "The Nats slipped into the offseason without turning to Clippard, Drew Storen, or Stephen Strasburg (who was available out of the pen) for salvation in the decisive game." - "The Good, the Bad, and the Bullpens: Joe Girardi, Mike Matheny, and the Manager’s Most Dangerous Game" - Ben Lindbergh, Grantland.com

• "Apparently having the best record in baseball over the past three seasons isn't enough to offset the cost of baseball's fifth-most expensive ticket." - "Washington Nationals haven't yet met high expectations but still finish well in Ultimate Standings" - Eddie Matz, ESPN.com

NL EAST UPDATES: Philies' stats; Greinke vs the Mets; Braves' trades

• Mets: "'If your pitches are that good, they can’t do anything with them,' Greinke said. And he made lots of those against the Mets this year." - "It doesn’t get easier: Mets have to face Zack Greinke in Game 5" - Fred Kerber, New York Post

• Braves: "The Braves, after firing general manager Frank Wren near the end of the 2014 season, set about on a mission to get out of their rut of mostly mediocre-to-good performance in recent years..." - "Braves: The trades that hurt the most" - David O'Brien, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Marlins: "Shortly after the season ended, Marlins president David Samson said at a news conference that the organization could interview anywhere from 'four to 20' managerial candidates." - "5 things to look for in Marlins manager search" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com

• Phillies: "The resentment of analytics peculiar to a certain brand of baseball fan is easily traced to the fact that nine out of 10 articles about analytics tell us that something is not as good as it seems..." - "Phillies' stats to ponder" - David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News

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