Following their feel-good “underdog” World Series win in 2019, the Washington Nationals have returned to their laughing stock image that’s been portrayed for most of the last 20 years. After yet another frustrating start to a season in 2025, Nationals owner Mark Lerner decided enough was enough, as he fired manager Davey Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo. Both firings take effect immediately as of Sunday evening. Mike DeBartolo will take over the front office for the Nationals as the MLB draft sits about one week away.
Nationals Fire Davey Martinez, Mike Rizzo: What’s Next?
The firing of Martinez was imminent. All Nationals fans knew it would eventually happen, but it stretched on over the last month. The Nationals are just 10-31 since May 31. They hold a team ERA of 5.15 during that stretch, which ranks third worst. When reporters asked Martinez about the team’s struggles, he responded:
“It’s never on coaching,” Martinez stated after a loss to the Miami Marlins on June 14. He insisted the coaches work tirelessly, and the messages are clear. But ultimately, “sometimes, they [the players] have to go out there and play the game.” He also stressed the importance of execution by the players: “We can’t hit for them, we can’t catch the balls for them, we can’t pitch for them, we can’t throw strikes for them. They’ve got to do that,” he said. He put the blame on the players to perform the fundamental actions of the game. Every single media outlet viewed this as a huge problem, which eventually led the Nationals to fire Martinez.
A Statement from Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner:
→ https://t.co/yHjVh4WWVJ pic.twitter.com/85cufOlzrK
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 6, 2025
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Along with Martinez being fired, the team parted ways with longtime general manager Mike Rizzo. Rizzo has served as the Nationals’ GM since 2009. He was responsible for the selections of both Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg, both generational talents who served the team well. Everything seemed to go well for Rizzo and his team. They successfully built a World Series roster in 2019, looking like one of the best teams in baseball. That was until the offseason struck.
Ultimately, the Wrong Choice
The team had to make a tough decision: either re-sign Nationals legend Strasburg or rising superstar Anthony Rendon. The team chose to stick with Strasburg. They signed him to a seven-year, $245 million record-breaking contract. It was a deserving deal for the World Series MVP. But after the 2019 season, Strasburg struggled to stay on the field. He pitched in just 31 1/3 innings over three seasons. His 2024 retirement left the Nationals in financial trouble. They still owe him $105 million on the contract.
Although Rendon hasn’t been much of anything with the Los Angeles Angels, the move triggered a sudden shift in the team. After struggling through the first half of the 2021 season, the team parted ways with shortstop Trea Turner and legendary pitcher Max Scherzer. The two went to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a package deal. In return, the Nationals received current starting catcher Keibert Ruiz, starting pitcher Josiah Gray — who’s barely seen the field — and another pitcher in Gerardo Carrillo.
Once the team stripped away its talent, they knew Juan Soto would eventually walk in free agency ahead of the 2025 season. So they traded the generational talent to the San Diego Padres at the 2022 trade deadline. Rizzo got a fantastic return from this deal. He received players like MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, and CJ Abrams — all of whom serve as cornerstones to the team’s current roster construction. Rizzo’s biggest issue has been his failure to address consistent roster struggles, especially in the starting rotation and bullpen.
With that, the Nationals now hold two glaring openings in their front office. Who will serve as the team’s future manager and head of all baseball operations? There are many different reasons as to why the Nationals are such a desirable destination. Let’s dive into the two main reasons.
Nats Have Top Overall Pick
The Nationals’ decision to clean house came at a pretty awkward time. The team will select from the No. 1 overall spot in this year’s MLB draft, one week from today. The fact that this team holds the top selection in a very deep draft should attract any potential candidates for both the GM and managerial positions.
The Nationals have two routes they could go. Either you select Ethan Holliday — the top-ranked prospect on some lists, known for his elite power potential and bloodlines (son of Matt Holliday, brother of Jackson Holliday). Scouts project him as a potential star, but his hit tool has some questions. Or, the front office could address a long-standing pitching struggle by drafting LSU’s Kade Anderson.
The last time a pitcher came from LSU — well, we know how that went. He’s currently among the best pitchers in baseball and has a chance to be the best for the next decade. His name, of course, is Paul Skenes. Anderson has emerged as the top-ranked college pitcher. He features a polished four-pitch mix, including a phenomenal changeup. He’s viewed as potentially closer to big-league readiness than some other prospects.
No matter what the Nationals’ new department decides to do, it marks the right step in their future. It adds to an already loaded young roster, which is about to be talked about even more.
The Young Nationals Movement
Besides Paul DeJong, who’s serving as the team’s “rental” DH, there’s not a single player in the Nationals’ starting lineup who’s over the age of 30. This alone serves as a perfect sign to any potential general manager and skipper. They would inherit a very young roster that could become a playoff team within the next two to three seasons. Not only is this roster young, but it also holds spots for James Wood and CJ Abrams, two guys who already rank among the best at their respective positions.
Abrams was viewed as the No. 2 overall prospect in all of baseball during the 2021 season by MLB Pipeline. Since then, he’s developed into one of the most underrated players in all of baseball. That’s still the case in 2025. So far this season, Abrams has batted .286 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI. He also holds an OPS of .840, which ranks among the best in the National League for the shortstop position, where he was not named an All-Star. Abrams’ combination of improved hitting, patience at the plate, speed, fielding ability, and potential for power makes him a valuable asset to the Nationals lineup and a player to watch for future development.
James Wood gives even more reason to take the Nationals job. Wood will be the best hitter in baseball within the next three years — it’s already being seen. His start to 2025 ranks among the best in baseball. He’s batting .294 with 23 home runs, 67 RBIs, an OPS of .958, and an OBP of .395. By the way, Wood has only played in 169 games. His combination of youth, power, and discipline makes him an amazing player. He joins an exclusive group of young players who have achieved similar numbers early in their careers, such as Alex Rodriguez, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Nationals even show a little promise in their starting rotation. As mentioned before, MacKenzie Gore serves as their “ace.” All three of the players received in the Juan Soto trade now look like future stars. Gore is only 26, holding a 3-8 record due to the offense’s inconsistency. But he carries a 3.11 ERA and 131 strikeouts, which ranks top five in baseball. His combination of overpowering stuff, compelling breaking pitches, and improved command makes him a force to be reckoned with on the mound.
The Last Word
The Nationals’ decision to fire both Martinez and Rizzo marks the right step in the next direction — that’s making it to October baseball. Like their football counterparts in Washington, the Nationals have young potential to dominate the National League. Now they just need the correct manager and the correct person to oversee all of baseball operations. If Mark Lerner can commit to offering contracts to their young stars like James Wood and CJ Abrams, that gives them their best chance of winning.
If the team moves the same way they did with Bryce Harper and Juan Soto when contract decisions loomed, then they’ll just repeat the cycle and end up back at square one in five seasons.
Main Photo Credit: © Brad Mills-Imagn Images
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