The Nationals fired manager Matt Williams and his coaching staff Monday. The team's general manager, Mike Rizzo, said that he'll keep an open mind in hiring Williams' replacement, but major league experience will likely be a necessity. Nationals coach Randy Knorr, Nationals players' choice two years ago when Rizzo hired Williams, may or may not be a candidate. Knorr has plenty of experience as a minor league manager and bench coach in the big leagues. If Rizzo is looking for a big league...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with Matt Williams early this morning in his office just outside the clubhouse to inform him that the organization decided to end his two-year run as manager. "It was face-to-face, man-to-man," Rizzo said. "Matt took it as a professional. He was very thankful of the opportunity to manage this baseball team. He also was thankful for me showing a faith in him to give him his first managerial job. He's obviously very disappointed in the result and the...

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo addressed the media after firing Matt Williams a short time ago. Here are Rizzo's opening comments from a conference call: "Really a tough day here at Nationals Park. A tough day for me personally. A tough day for our entire organization. But these are the first of the decisions we thought we needed to make as we meticulously evaluate why the 2015 season didn't go the way we had hoped. As I've said, this entire season was a disappointment not only to...

The announcement by the Nationals that Matt Williams was dismissed as manager for 2016 also included the statement that the entire coaching staff would not be retained: "Additionally, Bench Coach Randy Knorr, Pitching Coach Steve McCatty, Hitting Coach Rick Schu, Third Base Coach Bobby Henley, First Base Coach Tony Tarasco, Bullpen Coach Matt LeCroy, and Defensive Coordinator/Advance Coach Mark Weidemaier have also been informed their contracts will not be renewed." But some may still find a...

Who is the most feared team in the American League postseason? Kansas City is determined to return to a World Series for a second consecutive season, and this year, their run production is better but their rotation is less stable. The Yankees are a wild card team that hobbled to the finish line at the end of the regular season. The Astros, strong all season, stumbled in the first two weeks in September but played well in the final two weeks. The Blue Jays have unbelievable firepower, a deep...

While the Orioles clubhouse may undergo signficant changes with six pending free agents set to hit the market, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter are expected to remain in their current roles in 2016. Managing partner Peter G. Angelos attempted today to squelch rumors that changes may be on the horizon. Asked whether Duquette will stay in the front office and Showalter in the dugout following a .500 season, Angelos replied, "Absolutely yes." Duquette and...

The 2015 season came crumbling down for the Nationals despite having an extremely talented roster returning from a divisional title season. Injuries, bullpen issues, leadership and communication from the manager were many of the reasons why this promising season got untracked. On Monday morning, Matt Williams was dismissed as manager of the Nationals, one season removed from 96 wins and a National League Manager of the Year award. The Nationals stumbled to only 83 wins in 2015, playing well...

The Washington Nationals announced Monday that Matt Williams has been relieved of his duties as manager. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Additionally, Bench Coach Randy Knorr, Pitching Coach Steve McCatty, Hitting Coach Rick Schu, Third Base Coach Bobby Henley, First Base Coach Tony Tarasco, Bullpen Coach Matt LeCroy, and Defensive Coordinator/Advance Coach Mark Weidemaier have also been informed their contracts will not be...

After a season that ended woefully short of championship expectations, the Washington Nationals will search for a new leader for 2016 after firing manager Matt Williams this morning, according to a report from The Washington Post. General manager Mike Rizzo made the difficult decision less than two years after handpicking Williams, who had never managed in the majors before, to direct the Nationals' highly talented roster after Davey Johnson departed following the 2013 season. The Nationals...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - What was a stunningly impressive season for Bryce Harper turned out to be not as satisfying for the the young slugger as the Nationals exchanged handshakes and hugs on Sunday evening without a playoff series to move on to. "You look back on the year and you wish you were in the postseason," Harper said. "That's the main goal every single year when you start out. It's a bummer that we didn't get there this year. As a team, as an organization, we thought we had one of the...