Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Washington Nationals completed a shuffling of their minor league coaching staff, putting former major league infielder Tim Foli, who managed the club's top minor league affiliate in 2005-06, back in the dugout at Class AAA Columbus. They also moved former major league catcher John Stearns, who managed Columbus last year, to Class AA Harrisburg, where some of the franchise's top prospects are expected to play in 2008.

Foli, 57, served last season as the club's minor league field coordinator, overseeing the on-field operations of the Nationals' six farm teams. That position will be filled by Jeff Garber, who spent the last 20 years with the Kansas City Royals.

Stearns returns to Harrisburg, where he managed in 2006. He replaces Scott Little, who took over Texas's Class AA affiliate.

Randy Knorr, who served as the Nationals' bullpen coach for the second half of 2005, will be back at high-Class A Potomac for the third season. Darnell Coles, who previously managed the Nationals' short-season Class A affiliate in Vermont, will move to low-Class A Hagerstown to replace Tommy Herr. Ramon Aviles replaces Coles in Vermont.

The Nationals also hired Cesar Cede¿o, who played 17 years in the majors, as a coach for their rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate.

-- Barry Svrluga