The Washington Nationals exercised the 2023 contract options on President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez on Saturday.
“Mike and Davey have been leading the Washington Nationals for several years and it is only right to continue with them at the forefront,” said Nationals Managing Principal owner Mark D. Lerner. “Mike has led us through many different phases of our organization and we believe his work during this current phase will pay off in the end. Davey has done a tremendous job in the clubhouse and in the dugout for five seasons. His continued determination and unwavering support of his players make us proud. We are lucky to have Mike and Davey leading the way.”
Related Article: Perspective: In Rizzo, We Trust. This season will be a true test of this
Rizzo, 61, is currently in his 14th season as the head of Washington’s baseball operations. He was the architect of a World Series championship in 2019 and has earned four National League East titles (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017) and one Wild Card berth (2019) during his tenure.
The Nationals are 1,058–1,024 (.508) under Rizzo’s leadership since the start of the 2009 season. On June 24, 2021, at Miami, the Nationals beat the Marlins, 7–3, marking Rizzo’s 1,000th win as General Manager since taking over the club during 2009 Spring Training. In doing so, he became the ninth active President of Baseball Operations/General Manager to reach the 1,000-win mark and the sixth active to do it with one team.
For his efforts in leading the Nationals, Rizzo has been honored with several awards. In April 2022, he was inducted into the Triton College Alumni Hall of Fame. In December 2021, he was named the Italian American Baseball Foundation Executive of the Year. After winning the World Series in 2019, he was named Executive of the Year by Baseball America and the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The Boston Chapter of the BBWAA also honored him with the same award following the 2012 season. He also garnered Executive of the Year honors in 2012 from the Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago, which was followed by 2011 Man of the Year honors from the Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C.
Related Article: Perspective: Dave Martinez: a mixed bag of results
Martinez, 57, is in his fifth season as the manager of the Washington Nationals after being named the seventh field manager in team history on Oct. 30, 2017. In these five seasons, Martinez has led the club through a steady, unwavering approach, consistent strategy, and never-ending positivity and support for players. That includes an improbable run to the 2019 World Series championship.
On May 6, 2021, vs. Atlanta, Martinez became the longest-tenured manager in Nationals history (2005-pres.), passing Manny Acta, who managed 410 games from 2007–09. With a 2–1 win on June 4, 2021, at Philadelphia, Martinez passed Davey Johnson (2011–13) for the most managerial wins in Nationals history with 225.
The 2022 season marks Martinez’s 34th season in professional baseball, including 10 years (2008–17) as a Major League bench coach. From 2015–17, he served as the bench coach for the Chicago Cubs, where he played an integral role in three Postseason appearances, two National League Central Division titles, and the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship. Prior to joining the Cubs, Martinez spent seven seasons (2008–14) as the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays.
