No surprise to anyone at this point, but after a conference call with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo this afternoon it still looks like Davey Johnson will be the field manager for 2012. The organization signed him to a three-year “consulting” contract over the summer with the option to manage next season.
Rizzo has been “in communication” with Johnson over the past few weeks and he, in turn, has spoken with the coaches who remain under contract with the organization. All interviews are finished, per Major League Baseball compliance rules. And there aren’t any team sources indicating this isn’t a done deal once the World Series ends and teams are officially allowed to resume announcing personnel moves. You can read all the details on the managerial search in our print story.
So how about some other news: Rizzo says first baseman Adam LaRoche is making progress in his recovery from left shoulder surgery last June 16. LaRoche has started a throwing program and is expected to be at full strength during spring training, according to the team’s medical staff.
Another player with a throwing program, top 2011 draft pick Anthony Rendon, is also making progress. Rendon has reported no setbacks from the right shoulder injury that plagued him throughout his junior season at Rice. He was not able to participate in the Arizona Fall League, but is continuing a monitored throwing program under Washington’s infield coordinator Jeff Garber to help rebuild strength in the shoulder and working on his other baseball skills – swinging the bat, running the bases. No setbacks and Rendon, too, will be ready for spring training.
Rizzo was more tight-lipped on the organization’s search for a new spring training home. The facilities at its current headquarters in Viera, Fla. are fine. But there are no other big-league clubs in the immediate vicinity, which makes travel difficult in the spring and for the team’s Gulf Coast League affiliate. Rizzo said he visited sites around the Fort Myers, Fla. area – a Gulf Coast city with plenty of other teams nearby. But nothing is imminent on that front and Washington will be back in Viera for 2012.
Rizzo also discussed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, who is a free agent again after spending much of the last two seasons rehabbing from right shoulder surgery. Contract talks have continued this month with Wang’s representatives, but nothing is imminent, according to Rizzo. He has not had contact with pitcher Livan Hernandez or catcher Ivan Rodriguez since early in the offseason. But Rizzo said he wants to discuss possible roster moves like those with the new manager – almost certainly Johnson – and the coaching staff.
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
