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Report: Nationals ask permission to interview Astros' Cora

Michael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After shaking up the offseason managerial circus with Friday's dismissal of veteran skipper Dusty Baker, the Washington Nationals don't appear to be wasting time in their search for a new manager.

Washington has asked for permission to interview Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora - perhaps the most coveted managerial candidate on the market - upon conclusion of the ALCS, sources told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Cora has been heavily linked to the vacant Boston Red Sox manager's job in recent days. One source told Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston on Thursday that there was "not a doubt" Cora will be named Red Sox skipper after Houston's playoff run ends. That report came on the heels of a since-deleted tweet from Las Mayores - MLB.com's official Spanish-language account - that suggested Cora had already won the job.

The 42-year-old has some ties to the Nationals organization, having finished his 14-year playing career as a member of the team in 2011. According to Cafardo, the Nationals offered Cora a job in their front office upon his retirement.

Related: 3 candidates to replace Dusty Baker in D.C.

Cora has also interviewed for managerial vacancies with the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers this offseason - the latter of which was filled by Ron Gardenhire.

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