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Nationals fire manager Matt Williams, coaching staff

In this photo taken Sept. 26, 2015, Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams watches a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Washington. The Washington Nationals say they have fired Matt Williams and his coaching staff. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) In this photo taken Sept. 26, 2015, Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams watches a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Washington. The Washington Nationals say they have fired Matt Williams and his coaching staff. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

By Associated Press October 5, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Nationals say they have fired manager Matt Williams and his coaching staff after a season in which the team went from World Series favorite to failing to make the playoffs.

Washington announced the move Monday, a day after the Nationals finished the regular season barely above .500 at 83-79, second to the New York Mets in the NL East.

Williams was the manager in Washington for two seasons. Last year, he was voted NL Manager of the Year after the Nationals finished with the best record in the league.

In February, the Nationals exercised his 2016 contract option.