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Wire Taps: Nationals' manager search continues... will Don Mattingly get an interview?

Did the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to part ways with Don Mattingly provide the Washington Nationals with another option as they search for their next skipper? Nats links, tweets, quotes and more to catch you up on the last 24 hrs of news...

By Patrick Reddington
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Does the sudden availability of Don Mattingly change the Washington Nationals' plans? The Nats have already had a number of candidates in for interviews, but the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to amicably part ways with Mattingly does add another option to consider as they search for Matt Williams' replacement.

The Nationals, have, of course, shown interest in the former New York Yankees' first baseman in the past.

Before the Nats hired Williams there was enough uncertainty about Mattingly's future that he was mentioned as a person of interest.

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote that GM Mike Rizzo always liked Mattingly.

Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore reached out to Mattingly's agent who said that if things didn't work out in LA at that point, Mattingly was "'... aware that organizations like Washington and Chicago and Seattle would be great organizations, too.'"

"People who know Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo say Rizzo is and has always been a Mattingly fan," former CBSSports.com writer Danny Knobler wrote at the time.

"The Nationals considered Mattingly as manager once before, according to sources, although they never officially interviewed him for the job at that point."

The Nationals did ask for permission to talk to Mattingly back in 2009, before hiring Jim Riggleman, who was the interim skipper before he got the full-time job.

Six years later, will they bring Mattingly in again? While you ponder that possibility, catch up on the last twenty-four hours of Nationals news... including the reports which say Mattingly's bench coach for the last two seasons talked to the Nats:

NATS BEAT: Mattingly mentions, Wallach in Washington? + more

• "Mark Zuckerman has the latest on the Nats' manager search, including Cal Ripken's chances." - "Latest on Nats' manager search, including Cal Ripken's chances" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Mid-Atlantic

• "During his time as a coach with the Dodgers, Wallach was a hitting instructor, third-base coach and bench coach." - "Nationals interview Dodgers coach Tim Wallach" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com

• "Just as the Nationals' managerial search appeared to be poised to enter a more advanced phase, a development on the other side of the country could throw some wrenches into the plan." - "Mattingly's departure could impact Nats' search" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Mid-Atlantic

• "Thursday tossed a bit of a wrench into the Nationals’ managerial search, and not simply because Don Mattingly is now a free agent..." - "What does Don Mattingly’s departure from the Dodgers mean for the Nationals’ manager search?" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "Cal Ripken, Jr. ... has not had any contact with the club about the opening this time around and is not expected to..." - "Looks like Cal Ripken out of running for Nats job" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Mid-Atlantic

Feinstein goes all Feinstein:

• "Some call it bad luck for the Nationals. Others — like John Feinstein — call it karma." - "Strasburg Shutdown: Feinstein Laughs Last as Mets Advance to World Serie" - Chris Lingebach, CBS DC

And now back to the NATS BEAT:

• "Well, Scherzer lived up to it in his first year in Washington. He became only the sixth pitcher in history to throw two no-hitters in the same season." - "Nationals roster review: Max Scherzer" - Mark Zuckerman, CSN Mid-Atlantic

• "The Nats and Mets possessed two of the best rotations in baseball, but New York's starting five ended up outclassing Washington's." - "Nationals Pastime: The Mets, not the Nationals, are headed to the World Series" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "The Nationals went to great lengths to protect Strasburg early in his professional career, hoping to get the most possible out of him before he would be eligible for free agency." - "Roster review: Stephen Strasburg" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

NATIONALS BEAT: Lobbying for the Nationals, Hinch? + Moar

• "By January 2014, Foley—who has been in local politics since he was 23 and says he knows 'every city and county commissioner'—was joining Lerner and Lerner Enterprises’ head of development as they met with local officials." - "Mark Foley Has Been Lobbying for the Washington Nationals" - Marisa M. Kashino, Washingtonian

• "Hinch also worked in Arizona with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, who is searching for a manager in Washington but seems to be targeting a more veteran group." - "A.J. Hinch happy with Astros but could be attractive to Dodgers" - Evan Drellich, Houston Chronicle

• "Like Koney, Rizzo grew up in Chicago, on the north side. His father, Phil, had played minor-league ball, drove a truck and became a part-time scout for the Angels..." - "Out of tragedy, Red Sox scout Chuck Koney leaves cherished legacy" - Gordon Edes, Boston Red Sox Blog - ESPN

• "Michael Taylor - Received the fairest trial he could have asked for, multiple tools/skills are obvious as are his weaknesses. Adam Jones ceiling." - "Reviewing the Top 50 hitting prospects for 2015" - John Sickels, Minor League Ball

• "Former Tigers pitcher Doug Brocail, who has experience as a pitching coach with the Houston Astros, and former Washington Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty are also expected to be strongly considered for the coaching vacancy." - "A.J. Sager, Mick Billmeyer among pitching coach candidates for Detroit Tigers" - James Shmehl, MLive.com

• "With enviable rotation depth that includes Joe Ross and Tanner Roark as possible no. 5 or 6 starters, Rizzo's task will be juicing an aging, slow, righthanded-dominant lineup and doing so on a budget." - "Pulling a Preller: 2 GMs ready to ignite the Hot Stove" - Scott Mowers, Minor League Ball

• "That extra confidence — and a little raw emotion — fueled the Mets in that crucial weekend series against the Nationals." - "Mets road to World Series started with big series vs. Nats" - Kristie Ackert, New York Daily News

NL EAST UPDATES: Wright stuff + Braves' prospects + more

• Mets: "'I had faith in what Sandy was going to do,' Wright said. 'I had faith in what this organization was going to do.'" - "New York Mets captain David Wright revels in run to World Series" - Adam Rubin, SweetSpot - ESPN

• Phillies: "The first of the Hamels Gang to make the majors, Jerad Eickhoff debuted to mostly good reviews in 2015..." - "2015 Phillies Report Card – Jerad Eickhoff" - Brad Engler, Crashburn Alley

• Marlins: "Mattingly and the Dodgers have parted ways, and Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reported that the Marlins will have interest in speaking with him." - "Marlins interested in Don Mattingly" - Spencer Fordin, marlins.com

• Braves: "After four seasons of Minor League baseball, Ruiz has a composite .263 batting average and 29 home runs in 1,715 plate appearances. He is currently No. 8 among the Top 30 Braves Prospects." - "Scouting report on Atlanta Braves' Rio Ruiz" - Bernie Pleskoff, braves.com

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