{"id":103539,"date":"2025-07-06T21:38:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T01:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=103539"},"modified":"2025-09-16T11:08:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T15:08:37","slug":"nationals-fire-manager-davey-martinez-gm-mike-rizzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/06\/nationals-fire-manager-davey-martinez-gm-mike-rizzo\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationals Part Ways with GM and Manager: What’s Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Apr 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on before the Nationals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nationals Fire Davey Martinez, Mike Rizzo: What’s Next?<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s struggles, he responded:<\/span><\/p>\n

“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\u2019ve 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A Statement from Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner:<\/p>\n

\u2192 https:\/\/t.co\/yHjVh4WWVJ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/85cufOlzrK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n