Nationals Make Another Move, Hire Maddux as Pitching Coach- Wyatt Smith Reporting

The Washington Nationals appear to be cleaning house, and bringing in a staff that can coach their star-riddled team to a World Series title.

The team announced Wednesday, and will officially announce in a press conference Thursday, that they agreed to terms with Mike Maddux on Tuesday night.

Maddux had great success as the pitching coach in Texas, lowering the overall team ERA almost an entire run in his first year (0.99). During his tenure in Texas, the Rangers had four consecutive years of a team ERA lower than 4.00 (2010-2013). Before his arrival, they hadn’t had a team ERA lower than 4.00 since 1990.

USA Today reports that Maddux was hired by the Nats to be a part of Bud Black’s staff, before the deal with Black fell through and Dusty Baker took the job as manager earlier this week.

Maddux pitched in the big leagues for 15 years, and is the brother of Braves and Cubs star, and three-time Cy Young Award Winner, Greg Maddux.

In my opinion, the Nats now have one of the best managers, and pitching coaches available in the MLB this off-season. They appear to be doing everything they can to get back to the playoffs, after having an awful year in 2015, when they were pre-season favorites to win the World Series.