Nationals Fire Martinez & GM Rizzo While Cairo Gets Another Chance as an Interim Manager

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Yesterday, after being swept by the Boston Red Sox, the Washington Nationals fired both manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo.

Martinez had been the team's skipper since 2018 while Rizzo had been GM since 2009. The Nats won the World Series in 2019 but have not had a winning season since. They enter tonight in last place in the NL East, 16 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies.

At the end of May, the club was treading water at 28-30 but have gone 9-23 since. Mike DeBartolo is the team's new interim GM while bench coach Miguel Cairo gets another chance to be an interim manager. Cairo stepped into the breach for the 2022 Chicago White Sox after Tony LaRussa departed the club for health reasons. Despite going 18-16 under Cairo, the Chisox decided to hire Pedro Grifol as their new skipper. Grifol was a big part of the White Sox's modern MLB record 121 losses last year.

Frankly, I'm shocked that the Martinez and Rizzo weren't let go sooner. On the other hand, it does seem odd they would be let go now rather than at the end of the season. But if this gives Cairo another opportunity to show what he can do in the dugout then I'm all for it. I just hope the Nats give him a chance as their full-time manager.