Nationals Part Ways with 2019 World Series Winning Manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo Following Poor 2025 Season

The Washington Nationals have parted ways with Manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo after the team got swept by the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Nationals Part Ways with 2019 World Series Winning Manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo Following Poor 2025 Season

Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez (Image via X/@BRWalkoff)

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It’s the end of an era in Washington, D.C. On Sunday, the Washington Nationals parted ways with 2019 World Series-winning manager Dave Martinez and General Manager Mike Rizzo following poor performances in the ongoing 2025 season.

The Nationals have been going downhill since their famous win in 2019. They would shock the MLB world by beating the Houston Astros in Game 7 to clinch their first-ever championship.

In the COVID-shortened season in 2020, the Nationals failed to make it to the playoffs and finished with a 26-34 record. That finish was followed by 3 straight seasons of them finishing bottom of the National League East standings with records of 65-97 (2021), 55-107 (2022), and 71-91 (2023).

Last year they did move up one position but finished with the same 71-91 record from 2023. Things are looking bleak once again for them.

On Sunday, the Nationals would end up losing 6-4 against the Boston Red Sox. This saw them getting swept by the American League team, which left them with a disappointing 37-53 record and in last place in the division.

Following this loss, the team announced that they were parting ways with manager Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo. Martinez, who had been part of the team since 2018, leaves them as the winningest manager in Nationals team history with a 500-622 record.

Meanwhile, Rizzo had been serving the team since 2007. He was in his 17th season with the team this year.

For the time being, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager Mike DeBartolo will serve as the interim GM of the team. As for an interim manager, an announcement by the team is expected to be made on Monday.

Washington Nationals fire Dave Martinez days after milestone win

The Washington Nationals made a huge decision on Sunday following their loss at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. The team fired manager Dave Martinez just a few days after a milestone victory.

Dave Martinez
Dave Martinez (Image via ESPN)

This past Thursday, the Nationals took down the American League Central leaders, the Detroit Tigers. They ended up beating the Tigers 11-7 and claimed their 37th win of the 2025 season.

This win was Martinez’s 500th win as the manager of the Nationals. Unfortunately, for him, that win would be his last as the Nationals lost 3 games on the bounce against the Red Sox and got swept.

Martinez joined the team in 2018 on a 3-year deal and succeeded Dusty Baker at the helm. Following an infamous 19-31 start in the 2019 season, Martinez led the Washington-based side to World Series glory with wins over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Houston Astros in the postseason that year.

Nationals express gratitude towards Dave Martinez following his departure from the team

The Washington Nationals let go of Dave Martinez and GM Mike Rizzo on Sunday after another disappointing performance in the first half of the season. Following their departure, the team expressed their gratitude towards them.

Dave Martinez
Dave Martinez (Image via X/@MLBONFOX)

In a statement released by team owner Mark D. Lerner, the team thanked them for their contributions to the team. However, they admitted that the team needed to take the best course of action moving forward.

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.

This decision by the team comes a week before the 2025 MLB Draft. The Nationals hold the No.1 draft pick and would be hoping to make a huge mark with this. Ethan Holliday, the No.1 prospect in this year’s class, is expected to be drafted first and was recently seen watching the Nationals take on the Los Angeles Angels.

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