Mike Rizzo’s Tenure with the Nationals Comes to an End
Earlier this week, Mike Rizzo’s long-lasting association with the Washington Nationals concluded. After 16 years, the MLB team officially relieved him of his general manager duties.
Rizzo was instrumental in constructing the roster that led the Nationals to victory in the 2019 World Series. However, the team’s performance in the early part of the 2025 season has not been ideal, sitting at the bottom of the NL East standings as they head into Friday’s games.
Despite the difficult end to his tenure, Rizzo took time to express his gratitude to the fans. He made some unexpected gestures to show his appreciation.
Through the Rizzo Family Foundation Instagram account, Rizzo shared that he will continue his work with the nonprofit. He also mentioned plans to cover the cost of drinks at various sports bars ahead of the Home Run Derby scheduled for Monday.
“As a way to thank fans for their amazing 19 years with the Washington Nationals, grab a ‘Round at Liz’ before the derby at the Penn Quarter Sports Tavern or Walter sports bar on Monday, July 14th. The first round of beer is from 5pm to 7pm,” a social media post stated.
Rizzo spoke about his dismissal in a radio interview, stating he “doesn’t regret” his time in the front office. He emphasized being proud of the achievements made during his leadership. “I know I did it my way and led the organization to what I believed was the best, and we experienced a lot of success,” he said.
Regarding his firing, he admitted to feeling somewhat surprised but not entirely shocked. He noted that there was an expectation to meet performance criteria set by ownership, indicating that changes could happen based on those metrics.
The current principal owner of the Nationals, Mark Lerner, succeeded his father, Ted Lerner, who was also a team general manager during his time. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the Nationals compiled a record of 1,263-1,317, making it to the postseason five times. Recently, the team also parted ways with manager Dave Martinez.
