Washington Nationals hire Mike Maddux

Mike Maddux, who agreed to a parting of the ways with the Texas Rangers a little over a week ago, has been hired by the Washington Nationals as their new pitching coach.

Maddux was apparently targeted by the Nationals some time ago, and reportedly agreed to a deal before the Nationals hired manager Dusty Baker, although word of the hiring didn't break until after the news came out about Baker being hired.

The Rangers gave Maddux, whose contract expired last Saturday, the opportunity to see what else was out there, and the reports that came out at the time indicated that both parties agreed to move on.  The Rangers are reportedly close to hiring Doug Brocail, formerly of the Astros organization, as their new pitching coach.  Personality-wise, that would seem to be a significant shift from Maddux, as Brocail is said to be a "big" personality, whereas Maddux is a more subdued, professorial type.