The Nationals extended general manager Mike Rizzo with a "long-term contract," the team announced Thursday.
The team also announced that he has been promoted to "President of Baseball Operations and General Manager" along with the contract. The promotion is likely more of a reward than anything else, as the general manager typically fills a role very similar to the President of Baseball Operations.
Nationals owner Theodore N. Lerner lauded Rizzo for his ability to take the vision ownership had for the team and implement it as quickly as he was able to do.
The Nationals won the NL East in 2012, and Rizzo was voted the Executive of the Year. They currently sit at 52-56, second place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves.
Despite the club's struggles this year, Rizzo built a young core around Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez that offers reason for optimism.
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