The Washington Nationals recently announced that they have agreed to a multiyear contract extension with their president of baseball operations and general manager, Mike Rizzo.
Nationals announce they’ve agreed to a multi-year extension with president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo. He’s currently in his 15th year in that role pic.twitter.com/8KF4E4caoP
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 13, 2023
Rizzo’s contract was set to expire after the season, but the new deal allows him to continue leading the team’s rebuilding effort.
While the specific details of the extension were not disclosed, Rizzo expressed his intention to stay in Washington for a long time.
“I’m honored and flattered to have this extension. It’s an honor that the Lerner family has entrusted me for so many years with the keys to the franchise,” Rizzo said at a news conference Wednesday. “I hope I’ve been a good caretaker for them thus far…. My goal is to put out a product the fan base can be proud of and that we win a lot of games and bring another parade to Washington, D.C.”
Rizzo, who is currently in his 15th year running the team’s baseball operations, played a key role in the Nationals’ successful 2019 World Series win.
The team boasted a strong core of players that included stars like Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, and Trea Turner.
However, since their championship season, the Nationals have struggled and have finished last in the National League East for the past three years.
As of now, they are 1½ games behind the New York Mets in their bid to avoid finishing last again this year.
Despite their recent challenges, the Nationals have shown signs of improvement this season.
With a current record of 65-80, they have already surpassed their 55-win total from the previous year. Under Rizzo’s guidance, the team has undergone roster changes in an attempt to revamp and rebuild.
They made significant trades, sending Scherzer and Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2021 trade deadline.
In return, they acquired two promising players, All-Star pitcher Josiah Gray and catcher Keibert Ruiz.
Additionally, they traded Soto to the San Diego Padres, gaining valuable assets that included current starting shortstop CJ Abrams.
While Strasburg has been unable to pitch for the Nationals since June 2022 and is expected to retire, there has been speculation surrounding his future.
However, Rizzo dismissed the rumors, stating that both sides are working through protocols stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement. He assured that the situation is being handled and should not cause unnecessary concern.
Rizzo commended the involvement and focus of the Lerner family, stating that he has never seen them more engaged than they have been this season. The team has been boosted by the performances of young players like CJ Abrams, who has hit 18 home runs and has excelled defensively.
MacKenzie Gore, who was acquired alongside Abrams, has had a solid debut season as a starting pitcher.
However, rookie Jake Irvin has shown improvement, boasting a 2.12 ERA over his past five starts.
The Nationals are also eagerly anticipating the major league debut of Jackson Rutledge, a first-round pick from 2018.
The contract extension for Rizzo comes on the heels of the Nationals’ recent multiyear extension with manager Dave Martinez.
