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Nationals Pick Up Mike Rizzo’s Option Through 2018

By Ricky Keeler

Apr 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on from the field before the game between the Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on from the field before the game between the Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals have picked up the option on Mike Rizzo’s contract to keep him in the nation’s capital until after the 2018 season.

The good news just keeps on coming for the Nationals this week. Of course, there was the contract extension for Stephen Strasburg on Monday. Now tonight, Before game two of today’s doubleheader against the Marlins, James Wagner of the Washington Post tweeted that the Washington Nationals are picking up the option on President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo that will extend him through the 2018 season:

Under Rizzo’s current contract, the Lerner family had until June 15 to decide whether or not to pick up the option on his deal. However, as I wrote back in March for the site, this move made too much sense for ownership to decide that Rizzo is the perfect fit as the president/general manager for this franchise.

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So far, Rizzo’s acquisitions this winter have paid off, with the exception of center fielder Ben Revere, who sat out the first month of the season because of an oblique injury. Daniel Murphy is one of the league leaders in hitting (.400 average) and the new look bullpen has the second lowest ERA in the National League (3.09).

Rizzo has built a great foundation for this organization since he took over as the general manager for Jim Bowden back in 2009. He was the man who drafted both Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper with the top pick in 2010 and 2011. Plus, it had to help him that the Nats were able to work out a contract extension with Strasburg to keep him as one of the key pitchers in this rotation over the next seven years.

With Rizzo in charge, the Nationals have won two NL East titles and they have had a winning percentage of over .500 in each of the last four seasons. While there are still a lot of games left this season, the Nationals are off to a great start this year as they have a 23-13 record and are in first place in the NL East, heading into tonight.

Next: Nats Win Game One Of Doubleheader Over Marlins, 6-4

When you consider the good draft picks Rizzo has made and the trades for players such as Gio Gonzalez, Wilson Ramos, Denard Span, and Joe Ross (just to name a few), this was the absolute right move for the Lerner family to keep him as the President of Baseball Operations and the GM in Washington DC for the next couple of seasons.

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