The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera as their next manager, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN .

At age 33, Butera will be the youngest MLB manager since Frank Quilici in 1972.

When former Mets catcher Mike Piazza played with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Butera was his bench coach. Piazza gave his take on the Nationals’ decision to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

“I think it’s a great hire and I’m so happy for him,” Piazza said. “He is [a] very loyal, diligent, efficient, and dedicated baseball man. He commands respect with his knowledge and demeanor. He will always strive to put his players in a position to succeed. It was a pleasure to work with him.”

Butera has been with the Tampa Bay Rays organization since the team drafted him in 2015. Afte

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