The Nationals have named interim manager Jim Riggleman to that position full time, Major League Baseball sources said on Wednesday night. Riggleman, 57, is the organization’s third manager since it moved to Washington from Montreal in 2005. After Manny Acta was fired last summer, Riggleman piloted the Nats to a 33-42 record during the second-half of the season and saw his team end the season with a seven-game winning streak.
Riggleman was informed of the decision on Wednesday. He was chosen from a pool of applicants that included Bobby Valentine – who won a pennant with the New York Mets in 2000 – and former Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, among others. An official announcement could come as soon as Thursday.
Recommended Stories
Riggleman has previously managed the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. His career record is 555-694 in 10 seasons. Riggleman was the interim manager in Seattle in 2008 and a candidate for that position after the season. When not chosen he then joined Acta’s staff in Washington as bench coach and eventually took over on an interim basis in mid-July.
