Nationals find new coach in New York
WASHINGTON – Mets third-base coach Manny Acta is expected to be hired by the Washington Nationals as their new manager, a baseball official told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Nationals hadn’t made an announcement, said he had been told that Acta is getting the job.
WASHINGTON – Mets third-base coach Manny Acta is expected to be hired by the Washington Nationals as their new manager, a baseball official told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Nationals hadn’t made an announcement, said he had been told that Acta is getting the job.
He also said that, as of Saturday night, Acta had not formally informed the Mets he would be leaving.
Acta – the Montreal Expos’ third-base coach from 2002-04, before the franchise moved to Washington – had been scheduled to interview with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday for their managerial opening, but he withdrew from consideration for that job.
Nationals president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden did not immediately return phone messages Saturday night.
Washington has tried to keep a tight lid on its search to replace manager Frank Robinson, who was told during the last week of the regular season that he would not be returning.
Among the candidates were Lou Piniella, who publicly ruled himself out for the Nationals’ job before being hired by the Chicago Cubs, and former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, who said he was pulling himself out of the running in Washington.
Acta said he interviewed with the Nationals last month, meeting with Kasten, Bowden and members of the ownership group.
Citing a high-ranking baseball official, MLB.com reported that Acta will become the Nationals’ manager on Tuesday. ESPN.com cited unidentified sources in reporting that Acta’s hiring will be announced during next week’s general managers’ meetings in Naples, Fla.