Interim GM DeBartolo: Nationals need ‘real change’ under new leadership

The reign of Washington Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo began with a confession Tuesday — the franchise needs “real change” as it embarks on a new era without the recently fired Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez.

The former general manager and manager, respectively, were fired Sunday amid their sixth consecutive losing season. The duo led the franchise to a World Series championship in 2019, but the team has stagnated in recent seasons.

Team owner Mark Lerner selected DeBartolo and interim manager Miguel Cairo to lead the franchise forward, at least through the end of the season.

“The fans are right to be frustrated. We’re all frustrated. We have a lot of interesting, exciting, young pieces to build on,” DeBartolo said before the Nationals opened a three-game road series Tuesday evening against the St. Louis Cardinals. “Simply stepping our game up is not enough. We need real change.”

DeBartolo addressed the media for the first time since accepting the role on Sunday. In his comments, he envisioned a plan to drag the Nationals into the future.

“I’m excited to bring a fresh approach, a fresh voice to this role and integrate more data, more technology, more innovation into our decision-making across the organization at all levels,” he said. “And hopefully improve the performance of our players as well.”

The longtime assistant general manager had spent his entire front-office career under Rizzo with the Nationals. He began as an intern in 2012 before starting as an assistant general manager in 2019.

In his first month on the job, DeBartolo will make the first pick in Sunday’s MLB draft and define a strategy for Washington ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. MLB analysts expect the club to sell off older players on expiring deals to the highest bidders.

The new head of Washington’s front office also finalized a slew of roster moves on Tuesday night.

The team signed journeyman reliever Luis Garcia to a one-year contract after the Los Angeles Dodgers released him last week.

The club also placed catcher Keibert Ruiz on the seven-day injured list, moved pitcher Trevor Williams to the 60-day injured list and optioned right-handed reliever Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester.

Catcher Drew Millas will take Ruiz’s spot on the major league roster.

The team also hired Bob Henley — who had coached with the Nationals in several roles from 2014 through 2021 — to be the Major League Field Coordinator. Henry Blanco became Washington’s bench coach, the position vacated by Cairo.

In his first conversations with reporters, Cairo became emotional when discussing Martinez’s departure.

Several outlets reported that Cairo did not travel with the team on Sunday because he was mulling over the offer to become the interim manager.

“The only reason … I took the job is because I got [Martinez’s] blessing,” Cairo said. “If he would have told me no, I would go home … to see my family.”

Cairo joined Martinez’s staff in 2024, but the pair’s relationship dates back more than 25 years. The interim manager called his old boss his best friend. They played together on the newly formed Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998 through 2000.

The Cairo-DeBartolo era began Tuesday against the Cardinals. The pair will have a week to make their mark on a young squad before the All-Star Break, which begins after Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.