Rizzo extension provides stability to Nationals amid ownership uncertainty

During his negotiations with ownership, Mike Rizzo insists that the topic of whether the Lerners would sell the Washington Nationals never came up. The general manager didn’t need any assurances about the family’s long-term commitment to sign a new multi-year contract, which was announced Wednesday.

Besides, Rizzo indicated he knew better than anyone how much ownership was still “all-in” for the franchise. 

“I’ve never seen the Lerner family and ownership more involved and more focused and more into this thing than I have seen this year, in the last couple of years,” Rizzo said. 

“Believe me, when reports come out that they have one foot in and one foot out, that’s not the people I’m dealing with on a daily basis.”

Rizzo’s contract extension should provide some stability for the Nationals — a franchise that is still seemingly for sale and has lately been swept up in a myriad of controversies. 

Over the last few weeks, the Nationals abruptly canceled a planned retirement press conference for Stephen Strasburg, attempted to do damage control on Strasburg’s retirement by sending out a statement from owner Mark Lerner and let go more than a dozen of Rizzo’s staff as part of a front-office shakeup. Before Rizzo agreed to a new contract, longtime international scouting director John DiPuglia handed in his resignation and scouting director Kris Kline was shifted into a new advisory role. 

Adding to the uncertainty, there was a two-week gap between the Nationals announcing a new contract for manager Dave Martinez and Rizzo’s contract becoming finalized. 

But Rizzo and the Nationals were able to get a deal done — strengthening the odds the general manager will be able to see the team’s latest rebuild through. 

“It’s an honor the Lerner family has entrusted me for so many years with the keys to the franchise,” said Rizzo, who has been Washington’s general manager since 2009. “I hope I’ve been a good caretaker for them thus far and hopefully continue to bring respect and prominence to the Washington D.C. area and the Nationals.”

Rizzo said this has been “an encouraging season” for the Nationals. Washington entered Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 65-80 record — already a 10-win improvement over last year’s club. Rizzo said he was pleased with the development of the club’s younger players and the overall strength of Washington’s farm system. 

Rizzo, 62, is in the process of overseeing his second major rebuild of the Nationals. This teardown included trading stars such as Juan Soto, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. But those deals netted the foundation that Washington hopes can lead it back to contention eventually.

Rizzo said he was always confident that his extension would get done, even after the Nationals announced Martinez’s deal first — an unusual step for MLB teams.  The Nationals did not disclose specifics of Rizzo’s contract, including the length. 

As for the front office changes the Nationals will undergo, Rizzo said that’s part of baseball. He called the moves “an organizational restructuring,” adding the team took a deep dive into how it could be more efficient in the future. Those changes will include a “refined” approach to the scouting process, Rizzo said. 

But Rizzo pushed back against certain perceptions of the Nationals, namely the team’s handling of Strasburg’s canceled retirement press conference. The Athletic reported that the Nationals wanted to change the terms of Strasburg’s seven-year, $245 million contract and work out a settlement agreement because of the nerve injury that has effectively ended the pitcher’s career. 

Rizzo said the saga was “unnecessary controversy,” telling reporters there was “miscommunication” and “misinformation” throughout the process. Last week, Lerner released a statement that said the Nationals “will ensure that he receives what is due to him,” adding they look forward to seeing Strasburg “at spring training.” Strasburg has yet to officially announce his retirement. 

“It was unfortunate and I think it was unnecessary,” Rizzo said. “But the player is the one that retires. Teams don’t retire players. Players retire. Both sides know how these things play out when there’s a player that’s considering retiring on the 40-man roster, there’s a protocol that’s in the [collective bargaining agreement] that has to be undertaken before we can make any announcements or take the next step.”