robmadden1
08-19-2009, 03:37 AM
WASHINGTON -- A day after the Nationals signed their No. 1 Draft pick, Stephen Strasburg, to a record contract, it appears that Mike Rizzo will lose his job as acting general manager of the club.
According to Yahoo.com, the Nationals are expected to name Jerry DiPoto as the permanent GM.
The move could happen within the next 24 hours. Rizzo was talking to the local media on Tuesday about Strasburg and didn't give any indication that he was losing his job. Calls placed to Rizzo about his job status were not returned.
In March, the Nationals named Rizzo acting general manager, two days after Jim Bowden resigned from the GM position. Rizzo currently has principal responsibilities when it comes to the Major League, Minor League and scouting operations of the Nationals. All team matters or inquiries have been directed to Rizzo, with team president Stan Kasten working closely with him.
Since taking the job, Rizzo has been able to revamp the bullpen by adding Mike McDougal, Jorge Sosa and Ron Villone and acquiring outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Sean Burnett from the Pirates for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-hander Joel Hanrahan. The deal is considered a steal in favor of the Nationals.
Rizzo also was one of the point men in getting Strasburg signed before Monday's midnight ET deadline.
Rizzo called it an emotional -- and, in the end, an exciting -- day for the organization, which felt strongly that signing Strasburg was an important step toward making the Nationals a contender in the National League East.
"He is a fireballing right-handed pitcher who has a very bright future," Rizzo said. "He is the most coveted amateur player in the history of the Draft and a potential front-line starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals.
"We are proud to have him in the organization. We are happy to add him to a growing list of young starting pitchers. It's a big day for the Washington Nationals. It's a big day for the fans of Washington, D.C."
As for DiPoto, he was competing against Rizzo and Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer, who was at Nationals Park last week for an interview, for the permanent role as GM. DiPoto is currently vice president of player personnel for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090819&content_id=6499136&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb
According to Yahoo.com, the Nationals are expected to name Jerry DiPoto as the permanent GM.
The move could happen within the next 24 hours. Rizzo was talking to the local media on Tuesday about Strasburg and didn't give any indication that he was losing his job. Calls placed to Rizzo about his job status were not returned.
In March, the Nationals named Rizzo acting general manager, two days after Jim Bowden resigned from the GM position. Rizzo currently has principal responsibilities when it comes to the Major League, Minor League and scouting operations of the Nationals. All team matters or inquiries have been directed to Rizzo, with team president Stan Kasten working closely with him.
Since taking the job, Rizzo has been able to revamp the bullpen by adding Mike McDougal, Jorge Sosa and Ron Villone and acquiring outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Sean Burnett from the Pirates for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-hander Joel Hanrahan. The deal is considered a steal in favor of the Nationals.
Rizzo also was one of the point men in getting Strasburg signed before Monday's midnight ET deadline.
Rizzo called it an emotional -- and, in the end, an exciting -- day for the organization, which felt strongly that signing Strasburg was an important step toward making the Nationals a contender in the National League East.
"He is a fireballing right-handed pitcher who has a very bright future," Rizzo said. "He is the most coveted amateur player in the history of the Draft and a potential front-line starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals.
"We are proud to have him in the organization. We are happy to add him to a growing list of young starting pitchers. It's a big day for the Washington Nationals. It's a big day for the fans of Washington, D.C."
As for DiPoto, he was competing against Rizzo and Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer, who was at Nationals Park last week for an interview, for the permanent role as GM. DiPoto is currently vice president of player personnel for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090819&content_id=6499136&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb