The Washington Nationals entered the season as a team many thought could be the worst in baseball.
Instead, they have been surprisingly competitive for the entire year.
The Nationals have a record of 65-80 and sit only 1.5 games behind the New York Mets for fourth place in the NL East.
Also, they have a better record than the St. Louis Cardinals, which is something no one saw coming.
Even though this was a rebuilding year for the Nationals they were able to get some valuable experience for their young players.
Lane Thomas, CJ Abrams, and Keibert Ruiz are all having breakout seasons in Washington.
The one man who helped bring them all together is GM Mike Rizzo.
That is why the Nationals granted Rizzo a multi-year contract extension.
We have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo!
🚨: https://t.co/b4GLucjFbJ pic.twitter.com/Cc0fqn6v9x
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 13, 2023
Rizzo helped craft the Nationals team that won the World Series back in 2019.
He has a strong history of drafting good players and signing talent from the international pool.
It was important for the Nationals to keep Rizzo as they attempt to reload their roster.
This past draft they selected LSU star Dylan Crews with the second overall pick.
He is already in Double-A and it would not be a surprise to see him in the majors next year.
Also, Rizzo was the one who made the deal for the Nationals to trade outfielder Juan Soto.
That move brought some scrutiny his way but the Nationals got a strong package of players in return.
The Nationals may not be ready to compete next year, but Rizzo is the guy that can help bring them back.
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