After signing their World Series-winning General Manager to a contract extension earlier this month, the Washington Nationals have now tied down their World Series-manager, Davey Martinez, to a new contract according to multiple reports this afternoon.
While Martinez had a $1.2 million option for 2021, an extension for the skipper was seemingly the organization’s next point of business after Mike Rizzo’s future with the team was secure.
“That’s priority one is to get Davey taken care of,” Rizzo said after signing his extension. “My plan is, and my preference is, to not pick up the option and go well beyond that and that’s the plan going forward, see if we can get something done and negotiate a longer-term deal with him that goes beyond just picking up the option.”
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the extension for the Nats’ skipper is a three-year deal “worth a total of $7.5 million, averaging $2.5 million per year.”
Talks between the two sides had be ongoing for a while, as Martinez alluded to in his pre-game press conference Wednesday.
“My agent and [Rizzo], they’ve had many conversations,” Martinez said. “They’re talking about it. I leave that up to them.”
Both sides wanted to get something done. The organization wanted to keep their most successful manager since the franchise moved to the nation’s capital, and Martinez wanted to continue the success he has brought to the team.
“Just know that like I said before, I love it here,” Martinez explained.
“I don’t see myself going anywhere else. I appreciate the family, I appreciate this organization. And we’ve built a special relationship here.
“I hope I get a chance to stay here for many, many years ... the sooner the better though.”
It turns out Martinez didn’t have to wait all that long for an agreement to be finalized and the popular skipper will now continue to lead the Nationals for the foreseeable future...
Breaking: Davey a Martinez is being extended by the Nationals
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) September 25, 2020
The Nationals and Dave Martinez have agreed to an extension that will keep him in Washington beyond 2021, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. @JonHeyman was first to report.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 25, 2020