The Nationals have a new, young general manager.

Washington hired Ani Kilambi for the job as they enter a new era under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who was hired from the Red Sox near the end of the 2025 MLB season, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 

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Kilambi, 31, was previously the Phillies’ assistant general manager, overseeing the team’s R&D department.

He joins a new administration in the nation’s capital after ownership fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez in July, signaling a shift for the struggling franchise.

The Nationals hired 31-year-old Anirudh Kilambi as their new GM. linkedin

The Nationals hired 31-year-old Anirudh Kilambi as their new GM. linkedin

The Kilambi hiring comes after the Nationals made Blake Butera, 33, their new manager in late October. They join Toboni, 35, as a youthful MLB front office.

The Nationals are looking to bounce back from a major downfall since their World Series-winning 2019 season.

In six seasons since then, Washington has gone 354-516, the second-worst record in baseball over that period, ahead of only the lowly Colorado Rockies.

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Last season, the Nationals went 66-96, finishing in last place in the National League East for the fifth time in the previous six seasons.

Washington had put up eight straight winning seasons before this tough six-year stretch.

Nationals manager Blake Butera (L) puts on his jersey alongside Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni (R) at an introductory press conference. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Nationals manager Blake Butera (L) puts on his jersey alongside Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Paul Toboni (R) at an introductory press conference. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In recent years, major blockbuster trades of Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Juan Soto, among others, have failed to build a consistent winner in Washington.

With the post-championship rebuild now lingering longer than a half-decade, the latest moves signal a new approach for the franchise.

The latest rebuilding efforts had kicked off well before Kilambi arrived.

Earlier this month, the Nationals acquired catcher Harry Ford, the No. 42-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and right-handed pitcher Isaac Lyon from the Mariners in exchange for lefty reliever Jose Ferrer.

At the trade deadline, the Nationals dealt away veterans Michael Soroka and Amed Rosario for lower-level prospects with their season in shambles.