Washington Nationals Brace For Potential Ownership Change

Except for general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, there is not a lot of similarities between the 2022 Washington Nationals and the 2019 version that won the franchise’s first World Series title.

Just nine of the 25 players who played for the Nationals in that year’s victory over the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic remain with the team: Patrick Corbin, Sean Doolittle, Gerardo Parra, Tanner Rainey, Victor Robles, Joe Ross, Anibal Sanchez, Juan Soto and Steven Strasburg.

Doolittle, Parra and Sanchez all left the organization before returning. Beset by injuries, Strasburg has pitched just 26 2/3 since being named the World Series MVP and signing a seven-year, $245-million contract.

On top of all the changes, the Nationals are likely facing a shift at the very top of the organization. The Lerner family, which has owned the team since 2006, is exploring the possibility of selling the team.

“To say the least, I was shocked,” Martinez said of receiving a phone call from principal owner Mark Lerner earlier this month to deliver the news.

Mark Lerner has long said the family would never sell the team. He has taken over the lead role as the control person in the franchise from his father Ted in recent years.

However, the Lerner family’s finances have likely taken a hit during the pandemic, especially consider it has made most of its fortune in commercial real estate and building shopping areas. The continued growth of online shopping has certainly played a large factor.

The Lerners are more hands-on that most professional sports owners. Yet Martinez says the family isn’t meddlesome and he enjoys the frequent interaction with his bosses.

“I enjoy all the family when they are around,” Martinez said. “They always come down to my office. We communicate about a lot of things — the players and the game in general — and it’s always been a joy. I treat them as friends. Still, my job is still getting our guys ready to play each and every day and I think (the Lerners) understand that. It’s a personal relationship but also a good working relationship.”

The Lerners took control of the franchise a year after it moved from Montreal, where it had been under Major League Baseball control after owner Jeffrey Loria sold the Expos and bought the then-Florida Marlins. The Lerner’s purchase price from MLB was $450 million.

Forbes now values the franchise at $2 billion. That is reportedly the Lerners’ asking price.

The Nationals did not have their first winning season until 2012. That season began a run of five postseason appearances in eight years, culminated with the World Series title.

However, the fall has been rapid for the Nationals. They went 26-34 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season then dropped all the way to 65-97 last year.

Washington is 6-12 this season and not expected to contend in the stacked National League East. That isn’t a surprise after the Nationals traded cornerstone players Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers last July for four prospects and shipped closer Daniel Hudson to the San Diego Padres.

Rizzo doesn’t like to refer to the Nationals as a rebuilding team and insists they will be competitive sooner rather than later.

The biggest on-field question facing the Nationals is whether they can keep Soto, who finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting last season, for the long haul. The 23-year-old right fielder reportedly turned down a 13-year, $350-million contract extension offer in February.

There is no great urgency in getting a deal done, though. Soto cannot become a free agent until following the 2025 season.

It seems likely the Nationals will have new ownership by then.

“The Lerners love this team,” Martinez said. “They love the city, as well, and the fans and a lot of stuff that we try to do organizationally is based on the fans. (The Lerners) do a great job.

“While it’s a surprise to think they might sell the team, it’s still about engaging with the family, communicating with them, and working with them. We just have to stay as positive as we can, even though this news shocked a lot of people, and try to be as prepared as possible each day and win as many games as we can.”