Davey Johnson to take over as Nationals manager

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Davey Johnson has been serving as senior advisor to general manager Mike Rizzo.

Debbie Wong/ ZUMA PRESS

Davey Johnson will be named the new manager of the Washington Nationals, sources told SI.com.

General manager Mike Rizzo wanted a veteran with a winning track record. Johnson, 68, has previously managed the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers and U.S. Olympic Team. He is currently a special assistant for the Nationals.

The deal is said to be through 2013.

Johnson hasn't managed in the majors since 2000, but he has a career .564 winning percentage.

It is still unclear when Johnson will join the Nationals, as bench coach John McLaren was named the interim manager earlier Friday after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned on Thursday due to contract concerns.

McLaren was ejected in the eighth inning of Friday night's 9-5 win over the White Sox in 14 innings. After the game, McLaren said he would manage again Saturday.

Johnson has been a senior adviser with the Nationals since 2009.

"I think Davey is a great baseball guy," said Ryan Zimmerman, who capped the 14th with a two-run double.

"A lot of us were around him in spring training. We've got a good team here. We've got a great group of guys and whoever is the manager, whether it's Davey or whoever it is, they're going to be real happy with what we have here."