He’s back! Davey Johnson to take over as Nationals manager

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made it known that John McLaren's tenure as interim skipper would be a very brief one. (Maybe that's why he was willing to get tossed from Friday's 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. I only got this job through the weekend!)

Soon after Jim Riggleman's surprise resignation on Thursday, rumblings from those who cover the Nats said that Davey Johnson ?already employed by the team as a senior adviser to the GM ? was the favorite to take over as manager. Though Rizzo intended to interview several candidates, it appears that he'll go with the inside hire.

Johnson will reportedly take the manager's seat in the Nats' dugout as early as Sunday, according to ESPN Chicago's (and former Big League Steward) Nick Friedell. Negotiations were still being finalized as of Friday night, the Washington Post reported, but an agreement was in place. MLB.com's Bill Ladson later confirmed that Johnson was Rizzo's man for the job.

Could the Nats have had a better choice on hand? Johnson has won everywhere he's been, compiling a career managerial record of 1,148-888 with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. In his 14 years as a big league skipper, he's only had three losing seasons. His teams finished in first or second place 11 times. Of course, his seven-year tenure with the Mets also includes a World Series championship in 1986.

The only question is how long Johnson will stay in the dugout. Yes, compared to Jack McKeon, Johnson is a youthful 68 years old. But he hasn't managed a major league team in 10 years and often said he wasn't interested in doing so again. (Though he led Team USA in the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.) Plus, with both the Orioles and Dodgers, he only lasted two seasons.

Johnson seems more like the classic "win now" hire, someone who could get a playoff contender over that championship hurdle. The Nationals aren't quite there yet, though they appear to be making a major jump, having won 12 of their last 13 games and moving within striking distance of the Atlanta Braves for second place in the NL East.

Yet with Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and perhaps Anthony Rendon set to soon provide an infusion of young talent to a team that's already playing well, maybe the Nationals think they're ready to take that proverbial next step. If so, they apparently feel that Johnson is just the guy to give them a push into contention.

SI.com's Jon Heyman has reported that Johnson's contract will last through 2013. (Former Nats GM and current SiriusXM host Jim Bowden says the deal is through 2012, with an option for 2013.) That would fit in with Johnson's recent two-and-done managerial history. Rizzo and the Nationals have given themselves a window within which to make a run. And Johnson has one last chance at another prize.

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