The Washington Nationals and manager Dave Martinez have agreed to a three-year, $7.5 million extension, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.
Despite leading the Nationals to their first-ever World Series title in 2019, Martinez entered the 2020 season with uncertainty about his future. Martinez was in the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the club in 2018. But, that uncertainty dissipated some after GM Mike Rizzo received his extension on Sept. 5, as Rizzo vowed to sign Martinez to a long-term deal.
The Nationals had a club option for 2021, but the extension now voids that option. In doing so, Martinez will become the first Nationals manager to return for a fourth season.
Since moving from Montreal to Washington in 2005, no manager had lasted longer than three seasons. In fact, Martinez was just the second skipper in Nats history to manage the team through a full third season. Under the ownership of the Lerner Family, the Nationals have had a history of managerial turnover.
Manny Acta, who followed the Nationals’ first manager Frank Robinson in 2007, was fired 87 games into his third season in 2009. Acta’s replacement Jim Riggleman finished the 2009 season, got a full year in 2010 as manager, but was fired 75 games into the 2011 season.
The legendary Davey Johnson followed. Johnson won the 2012 NL Manager of the Year after winning 98 games and leading the Nationals to their first NL East division title. However, he retired the following year after failing to make the postseason.
The Nationals experimented with first-time manager Matt Williams in 2014. Williams won the 2014 NL Manager of the Year after winning a NL East title. But, he was fired the following season after the team failed to make the postseason in 2015.
Then there was the more experienced and respected Dusty Baker. In two seasons, he guided the Nationals to back-to-back NL East division titles, winning 95 games in 2016 and 97 in 2017. He is the only manager to guide the Nationals to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. But, the Nationals failed to advance past the NLDS in either season. Baker wasn’t brought back for a third season.
In 2018, Martinez got his first crack at being a manager after spending 10 seasons as a coach under manager Joe Maddon with Tampa Bay and the Chicago Cubs. Martinez’s stint got off to a rocky start, as he became the first Nationals manager to fail to make the postseason in his first year since Riggleman.
His second season in 2019 didn’t start well either. The Nationals were 19-31 on May 23. Many called for his job following a series of questionable in-game decisions. Yet, the Nationals stuck with Martinez and the team rallied their season going 74-38 in the rest of way en route to a NL wild card spot with 93 wins. That sparked a magical World Series run that was highlighted by numerous decisions that went Martinez’s way.
Unfortunately, the Nationals didn’t get the usual defense of a World Series title in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced MLB to shorten their schedule to 60 games with no fans in attendance. In what should have been a celebratory season was derailed by the pandemic protocols.
Injuries along the core marred a chance at a repeat as the Nationals were officially eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday night. However, Martinez’s fit with the club beyond this year was more evident. With hopes of normalcy returning in 2021, Martinez will be leading the clubhouse in 2021 and beyond with a three-year extension in place.
