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The Washington Nationals made surprising moves on Sunday by firing manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo, even though the team is well into its sixth losing season since winning the 2019 World Series. The announcement came just hours after a 6-4 home loss to the Boston Red Sox, which completed a sweep. The Nationals currently sit last in the NL East with a 37-53 record, only better than the Colorado Rockies in the National League.
With the amateur draft just a week away, Washington holds the No. 1 overall pick. Mike DeBartolo, senior VP and assistant GM, will serve as interim GM, while a replacement for Martinez hasn’t been named yet.
The Nationals had the option to extend both Martinez’s and Rizzo’s contracts but chose not to. Owner Mark Lerner expressed appreciation for their past work but said the team’s performance hasn’t met expectations. He emphasized that a fresh approach is needed.
Rizzo, who had been GM since 2009 and president of baseball operations since 2013, was key in rebuilding the farm system and assembling the 2019 championship team. Martinez, hired by Rizzo before the 2018 season with no previous managerial experience, led the team to its first World Series title but had a 500-622 record overall.
Martinez was the fourth MLB manager fired this season. He defended his coaching staff, saying that players are ultimately responsible for the team's performance.
Since the 2019 title, the team has declined. Rizzo began trading key players like Max Scherzer, Juan Soto, and Trea Turner, starting a rebuilding phase with little success so far. However, promising young players like MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, and CJ Abrams offer hope.
Lerner expressed optimism for the future, praising Martinez’s passion and connection to the team and community. The Nationals have struggled, finishing near the bottom of their division for five straight seasons, but remain committed to rebuilding and winning.
SOURCE: RocktownNow