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3 candidates to replace Dusty Baker in D.C.

Brad Mills / USA TODAY Sports

Washington, D.C. needs a new man in charge.

The Washington Nationals shocked the baseball world Friday when they announced Dusty Baker will not be their manager in 2018, after two seasons in which the club won 95 and 97 games and claimed back-to-back National League East titles.

While the move will be heavily debated, Washington now needs to find a new skipper to satisfy the club's postseason aspirations.

Here are three potential managerial candidates:

Mike Maddux

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Washington may not have to go far to find a replacement.

In letting Baker go, the Nationals also announced the rest of the coaching staff will also see their contracts expire, including Mike Maddux. That doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't bring the esteemed pitching coach back for a run at the helm, however. In fact, the 56-year-old is already being considered by some in the organization to take over, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Maddux has been in the mix for a number of managerial positions in the past. As the Texas Rangers pitching coach, he initially applied with the Boston Red Sox before taking his name out of consideration - ultimately leading to the hiring of Bobby Valentine, a move the Sox undoubtedly wish they could reverse. Though Maddux doesn't have managerial experience, he's very familiar with Washington aces Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

Dave Martinez

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Dave Martinez will eventually land a managerial gig somewhere.

Currently a bench coach with the Chicago Cubs, Martinez's name seems to pop up for every manager opening, and with good reason. Earlier this month, as the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers searched to fill their dugout vacancies, Cubs manager Joe Maddon strongly backed Martinez.

"I know all these people being considered, and I promise you our guy matches up with every one of them," Maddon told the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales.

It says plenty that Maddon is willing to let a longtime partner go because he strongly believes in him. But the Cubs skipper's testimony doesn't stand alone. After seven seasons as a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, he was strongly endorsed by the team's players to fill Maddon's void in 2014. Though Martinez was passed over, he joined Maddon in Chicago and continued to learn under him.

The Nationals may not be the easiest place to start, but the time could be right for Martinez.

Whoever Bryce Harper wants

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

A little facetious? Perhaps. But there is some reasoning for allowing Bryce Harper to steer the discussion in a direction he prefers.

Let's be real: Harper is a generational talent and there's a very real chance 2018 is his final year in Washington. If general manager Mike Rizzo truly perceives another NLDS loss a failure, then he absolutely can't afford to let Harper walk. What better way to entice your superstar to stick around than by finding someone he gets along with.

Of course, giving Harper final say on Baker's replacement can prove costly, because Harper and Harper alone will decide his future, and no player is bigger than his team.

But if No. 34 has a preference that isn't completely illogical, it may be worth it for Rizzo and Co. to listen.

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