WASHINGTON -- The Nationals have parted ways with manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo, the team announced on Sunday night.
Senior vice president and assistant general manager Mike DeBartolo has been named interim GM. The team will make an announcement on an interim manager sometime on Monday.
Martinez and Rizzo led the Nationals to their first World Series in team history in 2019. Rizzo was in his 17th year as the head of Washington's baseball operations; Martinez was the longest-tenured and winningest manager in Nationals team history (500-622).
The decision follows a difficult June, during which the Nationals went 7-19. They are 37-53 and last in the NL East. This comes one week before the 2025 MLB Draft, where the Nats hold the No. 1 pick.
The Nationals have not advanced to the postseason since their World Series run. This year, a promising young core -- including All-Stars CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore and James Wood -- were in place for a season with higher expectations. However, the results have not been reflected in the win column.
“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,” team owner Mark D. 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."
Rizzo entered the season as the second-longest tenured general manager in the Major Leagues. He was the Lerner family’s first hire in 2006. Rizzo was promoted from assistant GM to GM/senior vice president on Aug. 20, 2009, to GM/executive vice president of baseball operations on Oct. 19, 2010, and to his most recent role on Aug. 1, 2013.
During Rizzo’s tenure, the Nationals won the NL East title in 2012, ‘14, ‘16 and ‘17, leading up to the 2019 World Series.
Notable signings during Rizzo’s tenure include Jayson Werth's seven-year deal in 2010, Ryan Zimmerman's six-year contract extension in ‘12, Max Scherzer's seven-year contract in ‘15, Patrick Corbin's six-year contract in ‘18, and Stephen Strasburg's seven-year contract in December 2019.
"When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” said Lerner. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledging team in a new city to World Series champions. He played an instrumental role in leading the transformation of our farm system and building a roster that reached an unprecedented level of organizational success. 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. We wish him and his family nothing but the best."
The Nationals hired Martinez on Oct. 30, 2017, after serving as the Cubs’ bench coach. Martinez agreed to a three-year contract with a fourth-year option, which was the longest contract the team had signed a manager. He followed Dusty Baker, whose managerial contract was not renewed after the ‘17 season.
Following a now-infamous 19-31 start to the 2019 season, the Nats staged an improbable comeback to win it all in Game 7 on the road in Houston. During the 2019 postseason, Martinez guided the Nationals past the Brewers, Dodgers, Cardinals and Astros with motivational phrases including “Go 1-0 every day” and “Bumpy roads lead to beautiful places.”
Martinez earned his 500th managerial career win on Thursday. He was tied for sixth-longest tenured manager in the Major Leagues, along with Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Martinez has spent 39 seasons in professional baseball, including a 16-year big league career that began in 1986.
"I've always appreciated and admired Davey's passion for the game of baseball and the love he has for his players,” said Lerner. “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."
DeBartolo, who joined the Nationals in 2012 as an intern, has served in an assistant general manager capacity since ‘19. His experience in the organization has covered baseball operations decisions, assisting in contract and trade negotiations, player evaluations, salary arbitration and Major League rules.
“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.”