Davey Johnson on Nationals: 'World Series or bust'

• Davey Johnson will manage the Nationals for one more season
• The club was one out away from winning its first playoff series
• The Nationals have agreed to terms with pitcher Dan Haren

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – If anybody thinks Davey Johnson is still licking his wounds and lamenting the painful way the Washington Nationals' year ended, they don't know their feisty manager.

Johnson won't hold back when he heads into what's supposed to be the final season of a 17-year managerial career, inviting high expectations for the Nationals as they seek to defend their first NL East title.

"World Series or bust, that's probably the slogan this year,'' Johnson said at the winter meetings. "But I'm comfortable with that.''

The Nationals, who had the majors' best record at 98-64, took a 6-0 lead in the decisive Game 5 of the NL Division Series and were still ahead 7-5 with two outs in the ninth inning before the St. Louis Cardinals stunned them with a four-run rally to win in an instant classic.

Johnson stuck with closer Drew Storen even as he walked two batters and gave up three hits, including Daniel Descalso's game-tying single off shortstop Ian Desmond's glove and Pete Kozma's two-RBI single to put the Cardinals ahead 9-7.

"I don't re-live it because I think enough about what I'm doing before I do it, and I have all the reasons,'' Johnson said. "I've never worried about anybody second-guessing me because they don't know all the options that I have and how I've managed all year. So none of that bothers me.''

Johnson, who turns 70 in January, said he wanted to come back for a final shot at winning the World Series, which he did twice as a player and also as manager of the New York Mets in 1986.

The Nationals boasted the best starters' ERA in the NL last season at 3.40 and may have an even stronger rotation with the free-agent addition of veteran starter Dan Haren. They've also filled a void in center field by trading for Denard Span, but could lose first baseman Adam LaRoche, their home run and RBI leader, who is a free agent.

Of course, if Johnson has any say in the matter, LaRoche is not going anywhere.

"Adam LaRoche is going to come back,'' Johnson said. "I mean, if I have to go to Kansas and take him and all his cattle to Florida, I will. … We're trying to make it easier for him to come back.''