The Washington Nationals fired Mike Rizzo a week before the draft, what happens now?
Just now, the Washington Nationals fired GM Mike Rizzo and Manager Davey Martinez. There are so many wide reaching consequences of this move that we will break down. However, one thing that is an immediate cause for conversation is the draft. The Washington Nationals have the first pick in the draft but do not have a GM.
BREAKING: The Washington Nationals have fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 6, 2025
This makes the timing of the move very awkward. The Nationals still have plenty of information on all these players and their draft room is still in tact, but there is no leader. What will this mean for the draft?
However, with their options due to be decided on this month, it would be awkward to have a lame duck deciding on such a massive pick. Rizzo’s recent track record in the draft has also not been very strong.
“Stunning news on a couple different levels – number one is that the Draft is a week from today and the Nationals have the #1 overall pick.”@jonmorosi joins @abbylabar_ & @TheMayorsOffice to react to the Nationals’ replacement of GM Mike Rizzo and Manager Dave Martinez. pic.twitter.com/CyU3GxSua6
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 6, 2025
However, it is still a shocking move that puts major intrigue on the July 13th draft. Does this change the Nationals approach and if it does what players could be impacted?
For me, this could make it more likely that the Nationals take a high schooler. With Mike Rizzo’s seat heating up, it was looking like Kade Anderson was a natural pick. Anderson was a college arm that could make an impact quickly.
However, the Nationals can now afford to take the best player available without concerning themselves with the timeline as much. This could mean that a higher upside, further out player like an Ethan Holliday or even Seth Hernandez could be on the table.
It is crazy that the Nationals are going to make this big of a decision without a leader. However, with Brad Ciolek and Danny Haas, Rizzo’s influence on the draft room was waning. His history of poor moves in the draft made him change up the draft room and become more hands off in the process.
Mike DeBartolo is now the interim GM, but how involved was he in the draft process? His role is Senior Vice President and Assistant GM, but was he more on the pro side or is he involved in the amateur draft process?
There are so many questions and not a lot of time for answers. The race for the number 1 overall pick was already wide open and now it has been thrown into total chaos. Who has final say over this pick and how are they going to decide who they pick down the board. Also who is going to be in charge of negotiating and sorting through the teams bonus pool.
Fire the GM is a slogan, but now we are going to see what the reality looks like. Brad Ciolek, Danny Haas and Mike DeBartolo have some massive decisions to make in the next couple weeks.
The leadership in this franchise has been so untouched for so long and now everything is thrown into flux. It is both a crazy and exciting time to be a Nationals fan. So much is going to happen this month and chaos reigns.