WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- According to a Washington Post report, former Padres manager Bud Black will be named the next manager of the Washington Nationals.
Black had emerged as a leading candidate for the job shortly after Matt Williams was fired on October 5.
Black, the former San Diego Padres manager (2007-15), also enjoyed a 15-year playing career in the MLB as a pitcher (1981-95).
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During his playing career, Black most notably pitched for the Kansas City Royals from 1982-88, winning a World Series in 1985. Black won 121 games over his 15 year career and later went on to win another World Series with the Anaheim Angels as their pitching coach in 2002.
In eight-plus seasons as the Padres manager, Black went 649-713, failing to reach the playoffs in every season with San Diego. Black did win the 2010 National League Manager of the Year award when he lead the Padres to a 90-72 record, finishing just two games out of the NL West divisional crown.
Black has been heralded as a "player's coach" and brings an impressive pitching pedigree (both on the field and in the dugout) to the table, something the Nationals are in desperate need of.
According to the report, the Nats plan on officially announcing Black as their manager after the World Series due to the fact that the MLB "frowns upon" clubs making major announcements during the Fall Classic.
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