- The Washington Times - Friday, September 25, 2020

Dave Martinez isn’t going anywhere for a while.

The Washington Nationals locked up their 2019 World Series-winning manager Friday to a contract extension that extends beyond the 2021 season, according to multiple reports.

The new three-year deal is worth a reported $7.5 million, or $2.5 million per season. The Nationals have not yet made an official announcement. Martinez’s original three-year deal signed in October 2017 was for a total of $2.8 million.

Martinez, who turns 56 on Saturday, finishes his third season with the team Sunday, after replacing former manager Dusty Baker in 2017. No Nationals skipper has ever managed the team more than three seasons, so Martinez was already on pace to become the longest tenured manager in team history.

The Nationals went 82-80 in Martinez’s first season in 2018. Washington won its first World Series in 2019 as a wild-card team in a dramatic season that saw the Nationals recover from a 19-31 start. Players and organization members credited Martinez for the team’s season turnaround.

Martinez has a .520 winning percentage and 198-183 record entering Friday night’s game. The percentage ranks fourth in team history behind Baker, Matt Williams and Davey Johnson. Martinez is the only manager in franchise history to win a World Series, but a playoff series as well.

Martinez’s new deal comes three weeks after general manager Mike Rizzo inked a new pact. Rizzo and Martinez both had expressed interest in not only picking up the manager’s 2021 contract option, but extending the deal.

“I love it here. I don’t see myself going anywhere else,” Martinez told the Associated Press earlier this week. “I appreciate the family. I appreciate this organization. We’ve built a special relationship here, so I hope I get a chance to stay for many, many years.”

The Nationals are 23-34 and in last place in the National League East. Washington is three games behind the fourth-place New York Mets in the division. Friday’s game against the Mets was postponed and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. Washington was eliminated from postseason contention Wednesday.

MLB Network’s Jay Heyman was the first to report the new deal and confirmed by several outlets. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the financial terms.

• Kevin Leitzell can be reached at kleitzell@washingtontimes.com.

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