Dave Martinez
It took Dave Martinez far longer than anyone had expected to get his first chance as an MLB manager. He probably will not need to wait as long for a second opportunity.
Martinez has had a strange tenure with the Nationals. They were two games over .500 in his first season on the bench and had been 19-31 after 50 games in 2019. Then, after the bullpen was entirely remade from the scrap heap during the season, the Nationals went on a tear, earning a Wild Card berth and winning the World Series.
The subsequent years have not been as kind. Washington has not finished better than fourth in the NL East since, and find themselves in the basement once again. Yes, the Nationals are rebuilding and injuries have been a major factor, but they are also attempting to prove to Juan Soto that they are going to be contending for another title in the near future.
At this point, it is fair to wonder if a change is needed. After all, this is the team that moved on from Dusty Baker after he won 90+ games in his two seasons in Washington. If that level of success is the expectation, then Martinez has fallen far short.
The Washington Nationals are going to need to show signs of progress soon if they hope to keep Juan Soto. That may include moving on from Dave Martinez.