The Washington Nationals made surprising moves on Sunday, firing manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo amid their sixth straight losing season since the 2019 World Series win. The changes came shortly after the Nationals’ 6-4 home loss to the Boston Red Sox completed a sweep. Washington’s record now stands at 37-53, placing them last in the NL East, with only the Colorado Rockies holding a worse record in the National League.
With the amateur draft just a week away and the Nationals holding the No. 1 overall pick, the team named Senior VP and assistant GM Mike DeBartolo as interim GM, while bench coach Miguel Cairo was appointed interim manager on Monday. DeBartolo praised Cairo as a respected and hardworking leader who would energize the team and fans in the second half of the season.
Nationals owner Mark Lerner acknowledged the contributions of Martinez and Rizzo but emphasized that the team’s on-field performance has fallen short of expectations. Lerner said the club needs fresh energy and a new direction moving forward.
Mike Rizzo, who had been GM since 2009 and president of baseball operations since 2013, was instrumental in transforming the Nationals’ farm system and assembling the roster that brought the 2019 championship. Lerner expressed gratitude for Rizzo’s long dedication to the organization.
Martinez becomes the fourth MLB manager dismissed this season, following Derek Shelton of Pittsburgh, Bud Black of Colorado, and Brandon Hyde of Baltimore. Martinez’s overall record with Washington was 500-622. Last month, Martinez pushed back against criticism by emphasizing that coaching was never to blame for the team’s poor results, stating the players must perform on the field.
Before joining Washington, Martinez had never managed at any level, but Rizzo hired him ahead of the 2018 season. Martinez led the Nationals to an 82-80 record in his first year, but a poor start in 2019 raised doubts. Rizzo stuck with him, a decision rewarded by a World Series title fueled by strong performances from pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, rookie Juan Soto, shortstop Trea Turner, and veterans like Howie Kendrick, Ryan Zimmerman, and Anthony Rendon. None of those players remain with the team today.
Since then, the team has declined, especially after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with Rizzo trading away key players like Scherzer, Soto, and Turner. The Nationals are still rebuilding, showing promise in young talents such as pitcher MacKenzie Gore and outfielder James Wood—both named NL All-Stars recently—and shortstop CJ Abrams, an All-Star last year.
Lerner expressed optimism about the team’s future despite the difficult changes, affirming the family’s ongoing commitment to winning. The Nationals have finished near the bottom of the NL East every year since 2020, never achieving a winning percentage above .438 in the past two seasons.
Lerner praised Martinez for his passion for baseball and his connection with players, staff, fans, and the community. While this chapter has ended, Lerner believes Martinez’s baseball career is far from over.
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