Matt Williams, a long-time power hitter in baseball, appears to have connected for his latest home run. Reports Friday indicated Williams would be hired as manager of the Washington Nationals.
It true, this would be Williams' first managerial job. He replaces Davey Johnson, who retired at season's end.
Williams, 47, was third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season.
No announcement of the team's decision has been made, and the Washington Post noted Major League Baseball prohibits news of this nature being released during the World Series.
The move would not without controversy.
According to The Washington Post:
Williams will become the first manager to have been named in the Mitchell Report, MLB's first official documentation of performance-enhancing drug use in baseball. In 2007, the San Francisco Chronicle, citing business records, reported Williams bought $11,600 worth of steroids and human growth hormone from a Florida clinic in 2002. Then a broadcaster, Williams told the Chronicle he tried HGH to recover from an ankle injury and stopped using it because he did not like the effect.
Williams played 17 seasons with the Giants, Indians and D-backs.
The Nats' connection to Williams, the Post noted, comes through general manager Mike Rizzo.
Rizzo had been close to Williams since the early 2000s, when Rizzo was the Diamondbacks' scouting director and Williams was finishing his playing career.
The hiring apparently comes at the expense Nats bench coach Randy Knorr. A member of the franchise since 2001, Knorr was seen as a leading candidate to replace Johnson. However, Knorr told the Post he would remain with the team if asked.
Johnson, a team advisor, is said to support hiring Williams.
In his playing career Williams hit 378 home runs and went to the World Series with the Giants in 1989. He won four Gold Glove Awards, was named to the All-Star Game five times and last played in 2003.
CUBS CLOSING IN
Add Eric Wedge to the list of candidates for one of baseball's most thankless jobs. The Chicago Cubs are seeking a manager, and reports indicate Wedge will be interviewed.
The team's interest in Wedge, a former Seattle Mariners skipper, was confirmed by the Chicago Tribune and other media sites. Reports indicate team officials will conduct an interview next week.
The Cubs are looking to replace Dale Sveum, who was 127-197 over two seasons.
The 2013 season added to the team's misery that includes no World Series championship since 1908, no National League pennant since 1945, no playoff appearance since 2008 and no playoff series victory since 2003.
Wedge is 45 and managed 10 years in the majors. He spent the past three seasons with the Mariners, leaving in a contract dispute.
"Let me be clear here: The contract is not the reason I'm not coming back here," Wedge told the Seattle media. "If they'd offered me a five-year contract, I wouldn't have come back here.
His greatest success came in 2007, when he took the Cleveland Indians to within a game of the World Series. That team lost in the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox, for whom current Cubs president Theo Epstein was GM.
Wedge's managerial record is 774-846. He missed part of last season after a mild stroke, and the Mariners were, like the Cubs, mired in a rebuilding cycle.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts knows Wedge, the Tribune noted.
Management had preliminary talks with Wedge, with a more extensive interview expected next week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. That publication noted that Wedge was a manager candidate three years ago, before the Cubs opted for Mike Quade.
The team continues to seek its next manager. Known candidates include A.J Hinch, Manny Acta, Rick Renteria and Dave Martinez. Renteria is considered the favorite, according to the Sun-Times. That publication said Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo likely will be interviewed after the World Series.
Former Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remains a Chicago resident, but the Sun-Times noted he doesn't appear to be in consideration.
Expect the Cubs to make a decision before baseball's winter meetings begin on Nov. 11.
ALBERT WHO?
Tony La Russa was always fiercely protective of his players, so it comes as no surprise that the former St. Louis Cardinals manager swims against the current when it comes to Albert Pujols.
It's been two years since Pujols, a three-time NL MVP, played his last game in St. Louis. He sprayed champagne, boarded a parade vehicle, waved to adoring fans lining the streets … and then left town.
The Cardinals have done plenty of celebrating without Pujols, probably the biggest reason his big bat and larger-than-life presence have not been missed.
La Russa, who retired after the 2011 championship season, can't disagree more. Though he lives in California, whenever he's back in town La Russa said Pujols is discussed in glowing terms.
Pujols left the Cardinals to sign a 10-year, $250 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. After hitting better than .300 every season with the Cardinals except his last — when he hit .299 — Pujols has seen his batting average fall in his to AL seasons. His home runs fell to career lows of 30 and, in 2013, 17. He also missed more than 60 games last season to injury and was DH in most of his games.
The Cardinals got draft compensation for losing Pujols. With their pick, they selected Michael Wacha, a postseason star and Game 2 winner against the Red Sox. The Angel failed to make the postseason in both their Pujols seasons.
Contributor: The Associated Press