After Washington Nationals Fire Dave Martinez & Mike Rizzo, What’s Next For Last-Place Team?

The last-place Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, the team announced on Sunday.

Rizzo and Martinez won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, but the team has floundered in recent years. This season, the Nationals are 37-53 and stuck at the bottom of the National League East after getting swept by the Boston Red Socks this weekend at home. The Nationals haven’t finished higher than fourth in the division since winning the World Series.

“On behalf of our family and the Washington Nationals organization, I first and foremost want to thank Mike and Davey for their contributions to our franchise and our city,” principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington, D.C.

“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”

Mike DeBartolo, the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, was named interim GM on Sunday night. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the MLB draft. An announcement will be made on the interim manager on Monday, a day before the club begins a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rizzo has been the top decision-maker for the Nationals since 2013, and Martinez has been on board since 2018. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the team made the postseason four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019. The latter season was Martinez’s lone playoff appearance.

“When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” Lerner said. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledgling team in a new city to World Series champions. Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication – not just on the field and in the front office, but in the community as well.”

The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild that has progressed more slowly than expected, although the team didn’t significantly augment its young core during the winter. Led by All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals have the second-youngest group of hitters in the MLB and the sixth-youngest pitching staff.