NATS FINALLY REWARD GM RIZZO

The Washington Nationals and General Manager Mike Rizzo finalized a multiyear contract extension Saturday.

Manager Dave Martinez hopes he is next up.

The 59-year-old Rizzo, who also holds the title of president of baseball operations, built the team that won the 2019 World Series championship. The Nationals have won four NL East titles, most recently in 2017. They won the last season’s World Series after making the playoffs as a wild card.

Rizzo’s contract was set to expire at the end of this season. Martinez said his boss earned his new deal.

“He deserves it,” Martinez said. “He built this organization and good for him.

“He gets more years to build this up again and do it again.”

This year, the Nationals are in last place in the division in the pandemic-shortened season, but the 2020 struggles have not affected Nationals owner Mark Lerner’s confidence in Rizzo.

“We are thrilled that Mike will continue to lead our club,” Lerner said in a statement released by the team.

“He guided us through the early years of building this franchise into what it is today — a perennial contender that brought a World Series championship home to Washington, D.C., last season. I look forward to continuing our strong working relationship for years to come.”

Martinez is in the final year of a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2021. So far, there has been no announcement from the team about next season and beyond.

“Mike’s is done. Mine should be coming around the corner pretty soon,” Martinez said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Martinez insisted he doesn’t worry about his contract status.

“For me I never really think about it, honestly,” Martinez said. “I know they’re going to do the right thing. I do believe that. I have a good relationship with the Lerner family. They know how I feel about being here and I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

Altuve on IL

Astros star Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list before Saturday’s doubleheader against the Angels.

The move is retroactive to Friday after the second baseman sprained his right knee while sliding into third base during Thursday’s game against Texas.

The 2017 AL MVP is batting only .224 this season, but he was 16-for-48 over his last 14 games, including six multihit games. He recorded his 1,600th hit on Thursday, becoming the sixth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Notable

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has a strained oblique and likely will miss the remainder of the season.

Mike Rizzo