The Nationals had reportedly been learning toward someone with managerial experience after former skipper Matt Williams was hired in 2014 as a first-time manager. Longtime manager Dusty Baker also was among the candidates reportedly considered.
Williams was dismissed after the Nationals finished the season in third place in the NL East at 83-79.
The Washington Post was the first to report the news.
Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.