Interim Nationals GM pledges a 'fresh voice' and manager Cairo says 'it's hard' to replace Martinez
The Nationals fired manager Dave Martinez and longtime president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo after Sunday's 6-4 loss to Boston, which dropped Washington to 37-53 on the season and 9-23 since June 1.
'We have a lot of interesting, exciting young pieces to build on,' DeBartolo said. 'We have a lot more we need to build. Simply stepping up our game is not enough. We need real change. I'm excited to bring a fresh approach, a fresh voice to this role, and integrate more data, more technology, more innovation to our decision-making across the organization at all levels and hopefully improve the performance of our players as well.'
The Nationals have gone 325-473 and have not had a winning season since winning the 2019 World Series in Martinez's second year.
The 51-year-old Cairo had been the Nationals' bench coach since last year. After learning about Martinez's firing on Sunday, he needed his close friend and mentor's blessing before taking the interim position.
'I wouldn't get the job without talking to him,' Cairo said before Tuesday's game at St. Louis. 'He was here for a lot of years, and he didn't do anything wrong. He worked. He let us work. He worked hard. He made sure he put every player in the right position to succeed, and it is what it is. Right now, he's let go, and it's hard for me to be doing this interview.'
Cairo was Tony La Russa's bench coach with the Chicago White Sox from 2021-22 and went 18-16 as interim manager when La Russa went on medical leave.
'He's a true professional,' DeBartolo said. 'His work ethic is off the charts of his experience. You know, both playing, playing so many different positions, playing so many years, different teams, in so many different roles, front office, coaching. So, he's going to bring a wealth of experience and energy to the to the team, and I'm excited to see that.'
The Nationals also announced Tuesday that catching and strategy coach Henry Blanco has been promoted to bench coach, and Bob Henley has joined Cairo's staff as major league field coordinator.
DeBartolo has been entrusted with leading the Nationals as the team enters Sunday's 2025 amateur draft with the No. 1 overall pick.
DeBartolo joined the organization as an intern in 2012 and was named assistant general manager in 2019. He hopes to incorporate his own vision into the baseball operations department.
'Coming from an analytics background and building up that department, I'm excited to try to leverage some of those, both analytics and, also, new technology, throughout the organization,' DeBartolo said. 'We have a lot of great information, and I think there are ways it could be integrated more into all of our processes. So, I think I'd like to lead that sort of transition and integrate that even further.'
DeBartolo figures to be busy after the draft as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Closer Kyle Finnegan is set to become a free agent after the season and All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore is due for a raise in arbitration with two years of club control remaining after this season.
Cairo had a couple of new faces in the dugout Tuesday. The Nationals signed right-hander Luis García and recalled catcher Drew Millas from Triple-A Rochester.
Catcher Keibert Ruiz was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list and right-hander Eduardo Salazar was optioned to Rochester.
Ruiz was first placed on the concussion list on June 27 after a foul ball off the bat of teammate struck him in the head while he was sitting in the dugout on June 23 against Pittsburgh.
He was activated Friday and went 1 for 4 while starting two straight games at catcher, but he continued to experience symptoms and will remain on the injured list through the All-Star break.
The 26-year-old is hitting .247 with two homers and 25 RBIs in 68 games this season, his fourth as the Nationals' starting catcher.
Millas went 1 for 7 in three games during Ruiz's earlier IL stint and is expected to back up Riley Adams.
García went 2-0 with a 5.27 ERA in 28 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who released him on July 4. The 38-year-old reliever has also pitched Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Angels, Texas, St. Louis, San Diego and Boston.
Salazar went 0-1 with an 8.38 ERA in 30 appearances.
Washington also transferred right-hander Trevor Williams to the 60-day injured list.
MLB: /hub/MLB
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Telangana kickboxers seek state support to further international goals: Harsha & Naisha prove their mettle at national level
HYDERABAD: Kickboxing may not be as popular as cricket or badminton, but Telangana kickboxers are proving their mettle at the national level and are hoping that their achievements get the recognition it deserves. Meet 30-year-old Harsha Ratnakar and Naisha Bajaj, who are braving the odds to keep the state and country's flag flying. The game does not figure in the list of Olympic sports and as such the boxers are struggling for want of financial support, proper infrastructure and a support system to realise their dream. Both are part of the Telangana contingent that returned with 21 medals at the recently-concluded National kickboxing championship in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Harsha won the lone gold for the state in the -81kg category and Naisha won a silver in the full contact kickboxing event in the 70+kg category. These medals are one of the many in their impressive trophy cabinet. Both want to represent India in the upcoming World championship scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi in November. But lack of support from the state is weighing them down. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'The sport is not treated on a par with other games. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola While the same athletes who won medals along with us are given incentives and promotions in their jobs in states like Tamil Nadu, Punjab or Haryana, we hardly get any recognition,' rued Harsha, who works as a junior assistant in Commercial Taxes department in the city. Harsha, who took up the sport as a 16-year-old inspired by action movies and WWE, made a mark at the state and national meets before he took a six-year break to focus on preparing for the UPSC exam. He then won six consecutive gold medals at the state level and two gold and a bronze in Nationals on his comeback in 2022. He also won two silver and a bronze in the international events — Indian Open International Championship in 2022, 2024 and 2025 editions. Harsha and Naisha train with coach Suresh Patil at the Iskimos Kickboxing Academy in Somajiguda and they said their hopes of representing India in the World championship look remote in the current scenario. 'To compete in an international tournament abroad, we need at least Rs 2 to 3 lakh per tournament. If it is an international event in India, we need around Rs 80,000. We are spending from our pocket now to compete in Nationals and other tournaments in the country. But we want to win medals for the country abroad,' said Naisha, who was pushed into the sport in 2014 by her fitness-conscious mother. Naisha was just seven then. Naisha also boasts of an impressive medal haul — gold at the 3rd and 4th Indian International championship in 20204 and 2025 and a silver from the same event in 2022. Both Harsha and Naisha hope kickboxing will be in the Olympic fold so that they can win medals for the country. Till then, they are ready to battle inside and outside the ring.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
'Disciplined' Twins seek series victory vs. Dodgers
The Minnesota Twins have delivered an impressive impersonation of the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 'Disciplined' Twins seek series victory vs. Dodgers The Twins worked seven walks and took complete advantage of a shaky defense in a 10-7 win on Tuesday in Los Angeles. They head into Wednesday's game against the Dodgers with a chance at a series victory. Tuesday's win was just the third in 15 games for the Twins against the Dodgers since 2017. Minnesota's relentless attack Tuesday included two hits and two walks from both Carlos Correa and Ty France. Correa scored four runs and France, a native of nearby West Covina, Calif., added three. Christian Vazquez had two hits with three RBIs, while Royce Lewis also drove in a run in three different innings and none of them from a base hit. Royce, who hails from nearby Orange County, brought home runs with a fielder's choice, a bases-loaded walk and a comebacker with the bases loaded. "We stayed very disciplined," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We tried to just force them into the zone. I think our guys were watching the game, paying attention to other guys' at-bats, and then taking those thoughts to the plate themselves. And when we did get some pitches, we hit good pitches too. ... There was a lot of nodding and approval in the dugout." After losing two of three at Colorado, the Twins can head home with a break- even road trip when they send right-hander Chris Paddack to the mound on Wednesday. Paddack, who played three seasons with the San Diego Padres, is 1-4 with a 6.63 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers. He is 0-3 with 7.77 ERA in five starts at Dodger Stadium. After giving up six runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs in a loss before the All-Star break to the Chicago Cubs, Paddack returned Friday to give up five runs over five innings in another loss, this one to the Rockies. Four of those runs came in the first inning. The Dodgers will turn to right-hander Tyler Glasnow , who made five starts before he went on the injured list in late April with shoulder inflammation. He has allowed two runs, and just one earned, over the first two starts of his comeback. Glasnow is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three career outings against the Twins. "He's in a really good spot," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I think that he's really focused. Certainly very helpful having him back, and there's a lot of clarity going on right now with Tyler." There is less clarity with a defense that committed two errors on Tuesday and was sloppy at best The bullpen took another hit when right-hander Ben Casparius exited with a calf injury, one game after lefty Tanner Scott departed with elbow inflammation. There are no concerns with two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who has a home run in four consecutive games for the first time in his career. One of those games included a three-inning pitching performance against the Twins in a 5-2 victory Monday. "Seems like every night he's doing his part," Roberts said of Ohtani. "He's not letting the scoreboard dictate his effort. He's in there every night. He's taking good at-bats. ... I think the offense is starting to show some life." Field Level Media This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Rich Hill Becomes Oldest Player In Majors At 45 With Start Against Cubs
Kansas City's Rich Hill seemed a bit rusty in his return to the majors as baseball's oldest active player on Tuesday night. His Royals teammates didn't make the 45-year-old left-hander's start against the Cubs any easier. Hill gave up three runs and six hits over five innings in his first major league appearance since last September with Boston. He threw 90 pitches (55 strikes), walking two and striking out one before Jonathan Bowlan took over for the sixth with Chicago leading 3-0. Hill labored in the second inning when he threw 31 pitches and allowed two unearned runs as the Royals let him down defensively and Chicago took a 2-0 lead. After Dansby Swanson led off the inning with a single, third baseman Nick Loftin dropped Ian Happ's sharp grounder on a potential double-play ball. First baseman Salvador Perez then thew out Happ at second on Justin Turner's grounder, but bobbled Jonathan India's return throw on what should have been a double play. Matt Shaw had a run-scoring infield single and Nico Hoerner drove in one on a fielder's choice. Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in the final run against Hill in the fifth, on a double lined over right-fielder Jac Caglianone The Cubs also stole four bases off Hill, including a double steal by Turner and Shaw in the second,. Hill was selected from Triple-A Omaha before the game. In corresponding moves, the Royals optioned right-hander Andrew Hoffman to Omaha and designated outfielder Tyler Gentry for assignment. Hill's start at Wrigley Field marked the debut of his 21st season in the majors and his first with Kansas City. The Royals are his 14th major league team, matching Edwin Jackson's record. Hill became the oldest player to start a major league game since May 27, 2012, when lefty Jamie Moyer tossed his final game with Colorado at age 49. Royals manager Matt Quatraro said there was no pitch-count limitation on Hill, noting before the game the left-hander was 'built up' had been in the 90-pitch range at Omaha. 'Well, it speaks to his drive, right?' Quatraro said. 'He's played this game forever and clearly he's not doing it for the money or being a big leaguer. He's doing it because he loves it and because he can still be good at it.' At 45 years and 133 days, Hill became the oldest player in Royals history, passing Hall-of-Fame right-hander Gaylord Perry, who appeared in two games with Kansas City in 1983 after he turned 45. The 6-foot-5 Hill began his career with the Cubs, making his big-league debut with a one-inning relief appearance against the Florida Marlins on June 15, 2005. He gave up two runs and three hits. Hill had been at Omaha after signing a minor-league free-agent deal with the Royals in May. He was 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts at Omaha. A Boston native, Hill appeared in four games last season for the Red Sox. He made 11 postseason starts during his four years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including two World Series starts in 2017 and another in 2018. He went 11-5 during the latter regular season. Hill entered 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA in 368 career MLB games.
