Source: Baker, Black to get 2nd interviews with Nats

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals are going through a second round of interviews for their managerial job and, according to a baseball source, they will interview Dusty Baker early next week. The Washington Post reported that the Nationals will interview Bud Black for a second time as well. Both men interviewed for the job two weeks ago.

The Nationals didn't confirm the reports.

The last time Baker met with the Nationals was last week at Nationals Park. Baker met the Lerner family, the club's majority owners. The source indicated it was "a family affair."

Baker is looking to win the World Series ring that has eluded him over his 20-year managerial career. The closest he has come to winning it all was in 2002, when he was the manager of the Giants, who lost in seven games to the Angels. Baker, who played 19 seasons in the big leagues, did win a ring as an outfielder with the 1981 Dodgers.

If he were to manage the Nationals, Baker would not have to deal with a rebuilding phase. General manager Mike Rizzo let it be known recently that the Nationals are looking to win a title in 2016.

Baker won a Manager of the Year Award three times and has guided every team he has managed -- Giants, Cubs, Reds -- into the postseason.

Baker is also known as one of the better players in the Major Leagues during the 1970s and early '80s. His best years occurred with the Dodgers from 1976-83.

As for Black, he interviewed a day after Baker last week. Black managed the Padres for eight-plus years and is one of three former pitchers -- Tommy Lasorda and Larry Dierker are the others -- to win Manager of the Year honors. He is known to handle a pitching staff well, but often did not have a solid offense to work with when at the helm in San Diego. Black, who was the pitching coach for the Angels when they won the World Series in 2002, managed the Padres until being relieved of his duties on June 15.

Black played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues and is best known for his years with the Royals. He won 121 games with a 3.84 ERA. Black also played for Baker in 1993 and '94 with the Giants.

The Nationals are looking to hire their sixth full-time manager after relieving Matt Williams of his duties last week.