Team Cleans House – Manager AND GM Fired!

The Washington Nationals parted ways with manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo after a dismal first half of the 2025 season left the once-celebrated franchise in last place.

At a Glance

• Dave Martinez and Mike Rizzo were fired after a sweep by the Red Sox.
• Nationals sit at 37–53, last in the NL East and second-worst since 2020.
• Assistant GM Mike DeBartolo named interim GM.
• Martinez led the 2019 World Series run; Rizzo was GM since 2009.
• Leadership changes precede MLB Draft and trade deadline.

Collapse Triggers Major Shake-Up

The firing came hours after the Nationals’ 6–4 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday, capping a three-game sweep that plunged them to 37–53. With the second-worst record in Major League Baseball since 2020, only the Colorado Rockies have fared worse. According to Reuters, ownership concluded it was time for a change.

Dave Martinez exits with a 500–622 record over nearly eight seasons, highlighted by Washington’s 2019 World Series title. Mike Rizzo, the architect behind the team’s rise, had served as GM since 2009. Team owner Mark Lerner cited a need for “fresh perspective” and confirmed that assistant GM Mike DeBartolo will serve as interim general manager.

Watch a report: Nationals fire manager and GM in historic shakeup

An interim manager has not yet been named, but sources expect a decision before the upcoming All-Star break. Lerner emphasized that the club is seeking leadership capable of steering the Nationals through what may be their most consequential draft in over a decade.

Draft Deadline and a Culture Reset

The firings come just days before the MLB Draft, where Washington holds the No. 1 overall pick. According to ESPN, DeBartolo will now oversee final draft decisions—a rare power shift during such a pivotal moment.

The Nationals are in the throes of a long, uneven rebuild. Following their 2019 triumph, the franchise failed to establish a sustained contender and now ranks among the league’s weakest farm systems. Analysts suggest this double firing signals more than a reshuffle: it’s a full-blown reboot of front-office ideology, baseball operations, and team identity.

As the Washington Post notes, the Lerner family faces mounting pressure to restore both credibility and competitiveness. Whether this purge will invigorate the franchise or deepen its struggles remains the biggest unanswered question of Washington’s season.