Second Choice in DC

It might not have been the smoothest hiring process -- especially with reports the Nationals tried to go cheap with their first choice Bud Black -- as Dusty Baker becomes the new manager in Washington for 2016. With a resume listing 19 years as a player and 20 as a big league skipper (including three Manager of the Year awards), highlighted by winning the 2002 pennant with the Giants, this baseball lifer was an on-field leader who became a well respected skipper.
His job won't be easy -- several key Nationals such as Ian Desmond, Denard Span, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmerman are free agents this winter. Baker's greatest challenge is infusing a fresh attitude in a club that looked like it expected to win, instead of working to achieve something. And their prime competition will be the pitching rich defending NL champion Mets. Then, if there weren't a need to shake things up, the hapless Matt Williams would still have the job.

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