Nationals promote Cairo to interim manager after Martinez firing

The Washington Nationals named Miguel Cairo as their new interim manager Monday.

Cairo replaces longtime skipper Dave Martinez, who was fired along with general manager Mike Rizzo on Sunday after guiding the club to an NL East-worst 37-53 record this season.

The Nationals promoted Cairo after he joined the team as a bench coach in 2024. He held the same role with the Chicago White Sox from 2021 to 2022, which included serving as the acting manager in the last 34 games of the 2022 campaign.

"Miguel is well respected in our organization and around baseball," Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo said in a statement. "A diligent worker and student of the game, he has a proven track record of showing strong leadership in a variety of situations, and I believe that his voice and energy will serve as a catalyst to our team and our fan base in the second half of the season."

Cairo, 51, suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds during his 17-year playing career, which ended in 2012.