The last place Nationals have cleaned house.
General manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez were fired on Sunday following their latest loss to the Red Sox, which concluded a dismal weekend where the Nats were decimated by Boston, which outscored Washington 21-5 in the previous two games.
The team announced the move on Sunday night in a statement from principal owner Mark D. Lerner.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4) on the field making a pitching change against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“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,” Lerner said. “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 was named interim general manager and a decision on the manager will be made on Monday. Rizzo has been with the front office since 2007 and had been the team’s GM since 2009
DeBartolo, who is currently the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, will oversee the Nats’ baseball operations and the upcoming MLB draft.
Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on before the Nationals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
“Mike DeBartolo is a smart and thoughtful executive, and we’re fortunate to have him as part of our organization,” Lerner said. “As we hold the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s MLB draft and look ahead to the trade deadline, we are confident in his ability to lead the baseball operations staff through these next, important months.”
The decision comes after the Nationals started this season with a 37-53 record, which has them in last place in the NL East.
The Nationals have lost five of their last six games.
Martinez helped lead the Nationals to a World Series title in 2019, but the team struggled after and went into a rebuild in 2021.
They have not finished better than fourth in the last five years.
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Brad Lord (61) hands the ball to manager Dave Martinez (4) while coming off the mound against the Boston Red Sox seventh inning at Nationals Park. Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
“I’ve always appreciated and admired Davey’s passion for the game of baseball and the love he has for his players,” Lerner said in a statement about Martinez. “For almost eight years, he’s led our organization during some of our greatest moments, including a 2019 season we’ll never forget. Davey’s ability to connect with our staff, our players, our fans and our community set him apart. While this chapter has come to an end, we know that it doesn’t close the book on what should continue to be a long and successful career in baseball.”