The Washington Nationals have retooled their coaching staff following an embarrassing season under the tutelage of Matt Williams. Former Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker was announced as the club’s manager after negotiations fell apart with Bud Black, and now they’re on the verge of adding another big name to their staff, reportedly bringing in Mike Maddux as their new pitching coach.
Mike Maddux is likely to be named pitching coach of the Nationals. https://t.co/yGl1p9fX0H will have more.
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) November 4, 2015
Maddux leaving the Texas Rangers organization was an odd story. After the season ended, Maddux told general manager Jon Daniels he wanted to look at other opportunities. Daniels allowed it, and searched for another pitching coach, and when Maddux returned and wanted to talk contract, Daniels told him they interviewed some other candidates and wanted to go another way. Daniels broke down the talks in detail with the Dallas News. It’s a weird way to end a relationship with a long-time coach, but the Rangers didn’t want to sit around and wait.
Texas’ loss is the Nationals gain, as Maddux is widely considered to be one of the best in the business. Since joining the Rangers in 2009, the club is 18th in team ERA at 4.07, which doesn’t sound overly impressive until you factor in they’re playing in the AL in an extremely friendly hitters park. With the Nationals he’ll have an impressive group of pitchers to work with including Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. That’s a major upgrade from what he had in Texas. He’ll be replacing Steve McCatty, who was among the coaching staff fired by the Nationals at season end.
The Rangers have reportedly offered their pitching coach opening to former big leaguer Doug Brocail, who told the Houston Chronicle he’s in negotiations with the club. Brocail was the pitching coach of the Houston Astros from 2011 to 2013 before being reassigned by the organization. He spent last season as the pitching coach of the Astros AA affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks.
