The Washington Nationals have reached a two-year contract extension with Dave Martinez, putting an end to speculation about who will manage the team in future seasons. The deal includes a club option for a third year that could potentially keep Martinez with the team until 2026.
Martinez, who has a 378-455 record with the Nationals, took over as manager in 2018 and led the team to a World Series title the following year. Despite the team’s struggles in recent seasons, ownership believes that Martinez is the best option moving forward. There are also discussions of extending General Manager Mike Rizzo’s contract.
The Nationals have shown improvement in recent weeks, outperforming expectations and posting a 23-14 record in their past 37 games. The team’s farm system has also improved, thanks to increased investment in player development. The decision to extend Martinez is more about projecting stability to potential buyers as the team explores a potential sale.
There are currently limited potential buyers for the team, with Ted Leonsis being the primary suitor. The Lerner family, who currently owns the Nationals, is still considering a sale but is waiting for an acceptable offer. Future television revenue remains a major factor in the decision.
Martinez and Rizzo have been a package deal since winning the World Series. Martinez has been influential in shaping the coaching staff, promoting coaches he has a close relationship with. Evaluating Martinez and his coaches in 2023 will require looking beyond wins and losses and focusing on player development.
While not a guarantee, Martinez’s contract extension provides some assurance that he will be there to witness the next wave of talent coming up through the Nationals’ system. In a volatile industry, this is as close to a guarantee as Martinez can get.
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