I think we all thought that Jim Riggleman‘s return to the Washington Nationals dugout was already official, but apparently it was not until yesterday. A press release came out at 5:23 p.m. yesterday confirming the Rockville, Md. native would manage the Nats again.

Riggleman’s buyout for 2011 was a mere $100,000. He made $600,000 last season and was perhaps the least paid MLB manager in 2010. In his first full season, the Nats improved by 10 games in the standings, but they probably should have improved more.

Riggleman’s return likely means another season of nightly double-switches and earnest press conferences where he speaks a lot but doesn’t actually say anything. I am curious to see if he can get more out of the players this year and put together lineups that reflect the reality of a player’s performance and not his prescribed role.

It’s official: Riggleman will return – The Post
Riggleman officially returning – Nats Insider
Nationals News: Riggleman to return, and new uniforms to be unveiled – TBD

In case you did not see it yesterday, my take on the upcoming Nats uniforms change.