Mike Rizzo isn’t going anywhere for now.
On the morning of the team’s home opener, the Washington Nationals announced on Thursday that they have rewarded their general manager and president of baseball operations with a two-year contract extension.
The deal runs through the 2020 season for Rizzo, whose contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
“Mike’s commitment to our shared goal of bringing a World Championship to Washington, D.C. makes this an exciting day for our family and the Washington Nationals,” Nationals principal owner Ted Lerner wrote in a statement. “Mike and his staff have built quite a team — one that brings excitement to our ballpark every night and gives our city something to be proud of.”
Under Rizzo’s leadership, the Nationals have gone from the basement in the National League East to annual postseason contender.
Rizzo was hired in 2006 from the Arizona Diamondbacks as assistant general manager and promoted to general manager in 2009. He was elevated again to president of baseball operations in 2013. The team has won four N.L. East Division titles since 2012 and had six straight winning seasons. The Nationals have lost in the National League Division Series each of the past two seasons.
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“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in Washington, DC, building the Nationals from nearly expansion status into one of the winningest clubs in Major League Baseball,” Rizzo wrote in a statement. “I appreciate the Lerner family for giving me the continued opportunity to see what we can accomplish in the future.”
We’ve agreed to a contract extension with President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo. pic.twitter.com/mVruboZEiA
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 5, 2018
• Kevin Leitzell can be reached at kleitzell@washingtontimes.com.
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