In the wake of a three-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park from June 4–6, Washington Nationals ownership reset its leadership structure with a double-firing of manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo.
Albeit in a tough division, the Nationals have failed to find success or finish above .500 since their surprise World Series win in 2019. Historically, postseason success has eluded the franchise. Since Mike Rizzo became general manager in 2009, Washington has produced multiple MVPs and Cy Young winners, but has won just four playoff series, all during their 2019 title run.
The Red Sox have found themselves in a similar position. In 2018-19, when both teams won the World Series, each carried one of the highest payrolls in the league — $167 million for Boston and $155 million for Washington. Outside of those winning seasons, stingy ownership has contributed to a disappointing decade for both franchises. Rizzo delivered a championship to Washington, but like many executives, he struggled to replicate that success under a slashed payroll.
“That’s the job. I had a great run. Navigated that ownership group for almost 20 years,” Rizzo told Washington Post columnist Barry Svrluga.
The Red Sox should consider ex-Nationals GM Mike Rizzo as their next GM
Red Sox fans are all too familiar with ownership being the driving force behind wasted seasons. Rizzo won a World Series under tight budgets and lasted 17 seasons in a highly competitive division, despite working under one of the league’s most frugal ownership groups.
Rizzo is an old-fashioned executive who helped develop a bundle of major league talent for the Nationals. The problem is that while many of those players blossomed in Washington, they became stars elsewhere. Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, and Trea Turner are just four names developed under Rizzo who went on to become stars across the league, just not in the “Curly W.”
When star players built in Washington eventually want out, Rizzo has done a strong job of acquiring talent in return. In 2022, the Nationals traded one of the best young talents in baseball, Juan Soto, to the Padres. In exchange, they received top prospects CJ Abrams, James Wood, Mackenzie Gore, and Robert Hassell III. Abrams, Wood, and Gore have been by far the team’s best performers this season, combining for 10.9 WAR so far.
433 feet
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025
115.9 mph
James Wood crushed this one 🚀 pic.twitter.com/BwYuqfYPHg
Rizzo has a clear knack for trading established talent while acquiring promising potential in return. In contrast, the Red Sox front office has struggled to strike the right balance between selling the farm system and investing in premium talent.
After the controversial Rafael Devers trade, Breslow lost significant support in Boston. Critics quickly labeled him a robotic “stiff” who had lost the clubhouse.
Boston has struggled with general managers and the identity they bring to the team. Dave Dombrowski was a proven winner but came with a high price tag and consistently produced one of the league’s weakest farm systems. Chaim Bloom was hired to rebuild the farm, but was forced out after low payrolls resulted in losing baseball. Now, Breslow, despite making many successful moves, faces a persistent crowd of doubters who have had their pitchforks raised and torches lit since his arrival.
Rizzo, once a scout with the Red Sox, could be a happy medium of old-school winning baseball and a new-age analytical approach. The Red Sox are a massive franchise with diehard fans who expect October baseball every year. If the Breslow experiment doesn’t deliver, Rizzo might be the general manager capable of restoring Boston’s winning identity.