The Washington Nationals announced they are replacing President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo as well as Manager Dave Martinez, according to a statement posted on social media by the team.
Mike DeBartolo, senior vice president and assistant general manager of baseball operations, has been named interim general manager, the statement 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,” Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner said of DeBartolo in the Sunday announcement.
DeBartolo started out as an intern for the Nationals in 2012 and started working in an assistant general manager capacity in 2019.
Lerner cited the need for a “fresh approach and new energy” as reason for the shakeup.
“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.,” Lerner said. “While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be.”
Rizzo worked with the Nationals for more than 20 years.
“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,” Lerner said. “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.”
Martinez was with the Nationals 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,” Lerner said. “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.”
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