The Washington Nationals have announced the firing of General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez. In a statement, Nats owner Mark D. Lerner cited the need for a “fresh approach and new energy.”
The Lerners, the current ownership group, announced in early 2022 that they were “exploring options” regarding the team’s future, which was widely interpreted as considering a sale. While Mark Lerner later stated in February 2025 that they were no longer actively looking to sell the team outright, he did mention exploring options like selling minority stakes.
The July firing of Rizzo and Martinez has led to some local reporters, including JP Finlay of NBC Sports, speculating if this is a move that will lead to a potential sale of the team, “Unless the Lerners are just clearing the decks to sell, firing Mike Rizzo in mid July is criminal. He built them a winner and they tore it down.” The full statement from the Nationals can be seen below:
“The Washington Nationals today announced the replacement of longtime President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez, citing the need for a fresh approach and new energy. Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner made today’s announcement.
“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.”
Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager, Baseball Operations, Mike DeBartolo has been named Interim General Manager. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the upcoming MLB First-Year Player Draft, alongside other key members of the department. An announcement will be made on the interim manager sometime on Monday.”