"The Nationals need only to hire a bench coach to finalize their 2012 field staff, and they will make their hire with an eye on the future. The Nationals, General Manager Mike Rizzo said, plan to fill the bench coach position with a potential successor to Manager Davey Johnson.

Now, the bench coach will not necessary become the Nationals' next manager. But the Nationals intend to promote Johnson's successor from within the organization, and Rizzo wants the next bench coach to be a candidate, along with current third base coach Bo Porter, first base coach Trent Jewett and Class AAA Manager Randy Knorr."