No replacement named yet for departed coach Jewett

WASHINGTON -- With Trent Jewett leaving to become a bench coach with the Mariners, the Nationals continue to search for a third-base coach to replace the departed Jewett.

The Nationals hope to fill the position before the Winter Meetings, which start Dec. 9 in Orlando, Fla. The team did not say who they were considering for the job. However, Robby Thompson, Chris Speier, Sam Perlozzo or Mike Quade could be possible candidates.

Thompson and Speier have ties to new manager Matt Williams. The trio were teammates with the Giants. Thompson was recently a bench coach with the Mariners and managed the team for almost a month this past season when then-manager Eric Wedge was in the hospital recovering from a stroke.

Speier was recently a bench coach with the Reds. In 2012, he managed the Reds for several weeks after Dusty Baker suffered a minor stroke.

Perlozzo, who once managed the Orioles, has experience as a third-base coach. He has filled that role for the Mets, Reds, Mariners, Orioles and Phillies.

Quade was a third-base coach with the Cubs before he became manager of the team in August 2010, a position he kept through the 2011 season.

The Nationals could stay in-house for the job. They could hire Bobby Henley, who has been Minor League field coordinator for the organization the last four seasons. He has been in the Nationals organization for 10 years and has Minor League managing experience, including the Nats' Class A Potomac and Savannah clubs, as well as the Gulf Coast League Expos.

Tony Beasley most likely will not be considered a candidate for the job. He will return as manager for Triple-A Syracuse. Beasley was the third-base coach for the Nats in 2006, and he managed Syracuse the last two years following a stint with Double-A Harrisburg in 2011.