The Washington Nationals are interested in adding former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph to their coaching staff, Newsday has learned.

Washington, which fired five of its coaches following a 59-102 showing in 2008, would like Randolph to serve as a bench coach or third-base coach under Manny Acta, who served as Randolph's third-base coach with the Mets in 2005 and 2006 and was often regarded as the greatest threat to Randolph's job security.

In reaching out to Randolph, the Nationals are comfortable with the idea of adding a "manager in waiting" to their staff, in case Washington gets off to a slow start in 2009 and decides to fire Acta, who has just one year left on his contract.

Friends of Randolph say that he is eager to get back in uniform, even though the Mets will pay him $2.25 million not to manage. Randolph will probably wait out the Mariners' and Brewers' manager situations before committing to coach for Washington. Randolph interviewed with Milwaukee twice, in 1999 and 2002, for managerial openings, and he has a strong relationship with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.

The Yankees don't seem inclined to offer Randolph their opening at third-base coach. While the Steinbrenners like Randolph, neither Brian Cashman nor Joe Girardi appears to support hiring the team's popular former second baseman.

Washington general manager Jim Bowden, like the Steinbrenners and Melvin, appears to be a Randolph ally. After the 2000 season, Bowden interviewed Randolph for the Reds' managerial opening and offered Randolph his first big-league managing job. Then the Yankees' third-base coach, Randolph turned down the opportunity, citing a lack of commitment in years (two), dollars (a total of $650,000) and coaching selections (only one or two). Bowden, handcuffed by Reds ownership at the time, apparently didn't take the rejection personally.

Acta has huge supporters in the Mets front office, including COO Jeff Wilpon, GM Omar Minaya and vice president of development Tony Bernazard. Many executives in the industry interpreted the Mets' tepid, two-year, $2-million contract to Jerry Manuel as a sign that, should the Mets falter in 2009 and Acta become available, the Mets could easily replace Manuel with Acta.

If Randolph were to indeed join the Nationals, it would be an awkward situation. But friends of Acta believe that he's so excited about eventually managing the Mets that he won't be bothered by any tension.

The Nationals are also speaking with former Dodgers and Pirates manager Jim Tracy about joining their coaching staff.