The Washington Nationals hired Dusty Baker to replace deposed manager Matt Williams on Tuesday morning, agreeing to a multi-year deal with the 66-year-old after widely reported negotiations with Bud Black fell through.

"We were looking for a manager to help us achieve our ultimate goal of competing for a World Series championship," managing principal owner Ted Lerner said in a statement. "During our broad search process we met with many qualified candidates, and ultimately it was clear that Dusty's deep experience was the best fit for our ballclub."

Baker, who was reportedly offered the job Monday night, enjoyed a decorated 19-year career as an outfielder in the majors before starting a comparably illustrious managerial career in 1993. In two decades as an MLB manager, split between the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds, Baker compiled a 1671-1504 record (.526) while helping his clubs to five division titles and one National League pennant.

​"I am so pleased to welcome Dusty Baker to the Nationals family," said Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo. "In getting to know Dusty and identifying what we wanted in the next on-field leader of our team, we are excited to have him on board.

"Dusty’s experience, as a winning player, coach, and manager, is vast and varied. We are excited to bring him to Washington and put his steady demeanor, knowledge, and many years in the game to work in our favor. I think I speak for the entire organization when I say I am very much looking forward to working with him."

Baker hasn't managed for two seasons, as he was fired by the Reds following a disappointing finish to the 2013 campaign, wherein his club dropped the final five games of the regular season before losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL wild-card game.

Though Baker was reportedly the preferred option to replace Williams by certain team officials, the position was first offered to Black, who spent more than eight years as manager of the San Diego Padres before being fired in June. Black had accepted the job, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, but was unable to work out a contract with the Nationals after the club refused to guarantee more than two years.

Baker, then, will be tasked with leading a team that wildly underperformed in 2015 amid reports that Williams, in his second year as manager, had lost the clubhouse.

"It's a terrible environment," one player told Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post in September. "And the amazing part is everybody feels that way."

Widely expected to earn a second straight division title in 2015, the Nationals stumbled to an 83-79 record, finishing seven games back of the New York Mets following a litany of injuries and problems in the bullpen.