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NBC 4 in Washington D.C. is reporting the Don Mattingly, bench coach for the L.A. Dodgers, has decided not to interview for the vacant Nationals head coaching spot.

Honestly I'm not surprised. When I first heard that Mattingly was a candidate for the job I thought it was too good to be true.

However, as a Nats fan I can't help but feel a little offended that Mattingly won't even take the interview. 

I mean, I know this team is bad but with the right coaching they have enough young players to be competitive in the next few years.

After 23 seasons as the general manager of the Richmond Braves/Gwinnett Braves, Bruce Baldwin is relinquishing his position.

“I love this organization, but I love my family more and they’re back in Richmond,” said Baldwin. “I’m thrilled I will be back with my family full time and that I can remain working with the Braves. I’m deeply grateful and appreciative of everyone in Gwinnett, especially the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the county government, and all the fans.”

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports announced Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Rays have sent 2B Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez.

While trades are generally encouraged to wait until after the completion of the World Series by MLB officials to avoid distraction, details of the trade were leaked Tuesday with an official announcement by the clubs to be expected in the next 24 hours.

Reports out of Tampa late Tuesday afternoon are that the Rays have dealt second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is believed that the Rays will receive reliever Jesse Chavez in return, but the full details of the deal have not yet been released.

Iwamura was hurt early in 2009 and lost his job to surprising All-Star Ben Zobrist. The Rays had been rumored to be shopping Iwamura to a number of teams, including a deal that would have sent him to the Chicago Cubs with Pat Burrell in exchange for Milton Bradley.

The Minnesota Twins may be on the verge of completing a major deal to improve the infield for 2010 and beyond.

Mark Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the Rays are close to dealing second baseman Akinori Iwamura to an undisclosed team.

Cito Gaston, who was subject to controversy at the end of the 2009 season, will manage one more season and then begin a 4-year consulting agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“He had even talked about it a little bit last year —that 2010 might be his last year with us,” Anthopoulos said during a conference call. “He didn’t know that he wanted to continue. Really, at this time, reviewing everything, this was the right move for the organization going forward. This was carefully thought out. Everyone had a chance to state their opinions.”

According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, the Houston Astros have named Brad Arnsberg as their new pitching coach.

Arnsberg, who served as Toronto’s pitching coach the last five seasons, is the final piece to the coaching puzzle, as Houston hired Bobby Meacham as the first-base coach and Al Pedrique as the bench coach earlier today.

In addition, McTaggart is reporting that the Astros have reached an agreement with infielder Geoff Blum (one year, $1.5 million contract for 2010, with mutual option for 2011 worth $1.65 million).

In his press conference today, Philadelphia Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel announced that RHP Joe Blanton will start Game Four of the World Series. Cliff Lee will start Game Five.

When asked why he will go with Blanton in Game Four, Manuel said, "I think Blanton fits for us because I think we want to keep [J.A.] Happ right now in the bullpen, especially kind of in the middle where he could do some innings, and also Joe pitched last year in the World Series, and he’s got a little bit more experience."

According to the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice (as well as MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart), the Houston Astros have added two new faces to their 2010 coaching staff.

Beyond the hiring of new manager Brad Mills (along with the return of Sean Berry as hitting coach and Dave Clark as third base coach), the Astros have announced the addition of Al Pedrique [pictured] as bench coach and Bobby Meacham as first base coach.

The Astros' new pitching coach is also planned to be unveiled sometime in the very near future.

On Friday morning, the Chicago Cubs introduced their new owners to the media and the world with a press conference from a rainy Wrigley Field. The 35 minutes of questions and answers was informative, humorous, and encouraging for not only Cubs fans, but any baseball fans.

Tom Ricketts, the leader of the Ricketts Family, gave a brief introduction statement in which he outlined three points for Cubs fans under which they will work moving forward:

1. "We're going to win a World Series"