Nationals add McLaren, Lett, Radison as coaches

Former Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren was hired Friday as bench coach for the Washington Nationals, who rounded out manager Jim Riggleman's staff by also adding Jim Lett as bullpen coach and Dan Radison as first-base coach.

McLaren replaces Pat Corrales, Lett takes over for Randy Knorr, and Radison replaces Marquis Grissom.

Hitting coach Rick Eckstein, pitching coach Steve McCatty and third-base coach Pat Listach will keep their jobs with the Nationals in 2010.

Riggleman was McLaren's bench coach with Seattle at the start of 2008, then replaced him as the team's manager when McLaren was fired during that season.

McLaren was a special assignment scout for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009.

Lett was a coach in Milwaukee's minor league system the past two years and has been a bench coach for four clubs during 11 major league seasons.

Radison was the minor league hitting instructor for St. Louis the past three seasons.

Knorr is going to be the manager of Washington's Double-A Harrisburg affiliate next season. Grissom was offered another job within the Nationals organization but did not accept it.

Corrales will return to being a special consultant to general manager Mike Rizzo. Corrales held that role before shifting to the dugout when Riggleman was promoted from bench coach to replace fired manager Manny Acta in July. Riggleman managed on an interim basis through the end of last season, then was given the permanent job last week.