Former Nationals GM Mike Rizzo Draws GM Interview with Houston

With the 2026 World Series nearing an end and the offseason set to pick up, the Washington Nationals are focused on addressing the laundry list of roster needs ahead of the chance to build on 2026's success. After turning the page from the prior regime, one former key Nationals' executive could land back in the MLB.

Reports broke on Monday that former Washington general manager Mike Rizzo is expected to interview for the vacant general manager job for the Houston Astros. This marks the second known interview over the last two months after the Athletics also interviewed Rizzo for their vacant general manager position.

Rizzo's stint with the Nationals ended after nearly 20 years with the organization, first arriving in 2007 as the assistant general manager before he was promoted to general manager two years later. In addition to his general manager title, Rizzo was also named president of baseball operations where he oversaw the 2019 World Series championship team, but also the downfall in the immediate seasons with six consecutive losing seasons to show for it.

Prior to stepping into an executive role, Rizzo began his MLB coaching career as an amateur scout with the Chicago White Sox before moving on to the Boston Red Sox then Arizona Diamondbacks. He was then promoted to Arizona's scouting director in 2000 where he spent seven seasons with the organization prior to arriving in Washington.

Yet the interview with the Astros also serves as a bit of irony given Rizzo led the Nationals to the World Series win -- over the Astros -- after taking the seven game series in 2019. Bob Nightengale added Rizzo has reportedly told those close to him that he wants to work with the Astros organization given he has a strong relationship with owner Jim Crane.

The Astros are coming off a 2026 season where they finished .500 overall, the first time since 2020 that they failed to finish above .500, before falling in the American League Wild Card game. The Astros have also reached the postseason in ten of the last 12 seasons, potentially giving Rizzo a strong roster to inherit.

The Nationals, of course, turned to Paul Toboni as the new president of baseball operations while Blake Butera's arrival as the new manager marked a new chapter for the organization before eventually surpassing preseason expectations by finishing eight games under .500 in a season where they were expected to contend for one of the MLB's worst teams.