Despite what you may have assumed after reading the headline, he will NOT be dressing up and racing as President Garfield…

Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the Washington Nationals are interested in hiring Willie Randolph, who is due $2.25 million from the Mets in 2009, as either bench or 3rd base coach under Manny Acta.

Acta, by the way, managed the Nats to a somewhat decent 73-89 record in 2007, but went backwards in 2008 after adding more Mets castoffs, posting a poor 59-102 record.

So I guess Willie won’t be taking that Raiders gig then.  Wouldn’t this situation be interesting?  He had reason to worry about Acta usurping him in New York, being that he was clearly a favorite of Omar Minaya‘s and Tony Bernazard’s, and now Willie gets to make Acta squirm a little if he goes with plan C and works for the Nats.  Not that Manny would mind losing his Washington gig, since as Mr. Davidoff points out, his real desire is to return to work for the Mets anyway.  Not that he should under ANY circumstances.

I loved Willie, but he clearly lost this Mets team, so he and Acta can stay down and Washington and lose that team together as far as I’m concerned.