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MLB Betting: Rumors, Trade and Contract News
Firing Matt Williams was necessary after a disastrous Nationals season (by @CliffCorcoran) http://t.co/MiYNueRo13 pic.twitter.com/wRuK8K6j4E
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 5, 2015
In Washington, the big question is who to bring in to replace fired manager Matt Williams – and his entire coaching staff. It’s not like Williams was the only reason why the team didn’t play well, but the last month of the regular season seemed to show that he was on the way out. The Nats were terrible on the field, and then the brawl that broke out between Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon in the dugout last week showed that Williams did not have control of the clubhouse. Nats GM Mike Rizzo met the media on Monday and said that the team is looking for prior experience as they choose a new manager.
“Experience is always helpful. It always adds a layer of expertise to anybody’s resume. We feel that where we’re at in our timetable, our time frame of winning a championship, we would lean toward someone who has some type of managerial experience at the major league level. James Wagner of the Washington Post lists such experienced managers as Ron Gardenhire, Don Wakamatsu, Bud Black, Jim Leyland and Dusty Baker as possibilities. However, he also indicates that potential rookie managers Cal Ripken, Jr., Dave Martinez and Randy Knorr could also be on the list.
In Oakland, the A’s want to sign Josh Reddick to a contract extension before he hits free agency. As the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reports, “Josh is a good player and he’s still young [28].” Reddick hit .227 and slugged 20 home runs with 77 RBI during the 2015 season.
A.J. Pollock is another talented outfielder who could be looking at an extension. Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart said that the team has talked to Pollock about a new contract and found him receptive, reports Nick Piecoro with the Arizona Republic. Pollock had a terrific 2015, hitting 20 home runs and swiping 39 bases, while posting a .315 batting average. He is arbitration eligible this offseason for the first time, which means that a big raise is likely headed his way either way.
The San Francisco Giants are expected to target pitching improvements in the offseason, and one job involves re-signing Mike Leake. According to CSNBayArea.com’s Alex Pavlovic, both sides show some interest, although there are also some other names that the Giants are considering. As Giants GM Bobby Evans said, “We’re going to be open-minded about the pace of negotiations and discussions. I’m not ready to pin down any one guy at this point. I think we’ll be open-minded to the pace.” Leake was 2-5 with a 4.07 ERA as a Giant, but his last start saw him throw a two-hit complete game shutout against the Dodgers. 
