Washington Nationals: 5 managers who should replace Dusty Baker

1. John Farrell

Somewhat surprisingly, John Farrell was let go a year early by the Boston Red Sox. After Boston lost in the ALDS to the Houston Astros, they decided to move on. After spending two years as the manager of the Blue Jays, Farrell has been Boston’s manager for the past five seasons. He led the team to a World Series championship in his first year with the team in 2013.

Farrell would be a nice option for the Washington Nationals in their search for a new manager. He obviously has a ton of experience and has shown a willingness to be creative with his roster usage. Farrell has a fairly traditional style, but he is not afraid to be aggressive with matchups with both his hitters and pitchers.

Farrell would be an obvious upgrade over Baker. He is also a fairly safe choice. He has been an MLB manager for the last seven seasons, so you know what you are getting from the guy.

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The Washington Nationals hiring someone like Kapler or McEwing would be risky but bring a ton of upside. Gardenhire is an interesting choice and Hale certainly deserves an opportunity. That being said, out of everybody currently available, Farrell is the best option.

Washington has a roster that is ready to compete. They just need a strong manager to put them over the top. Farrell can be that guy, just like he did in Boston.