The Washington Nationals have decided not to retain interim manager Miguel Cairo as their permanent manager following a disappointing season. Cairo, who took over from Dave Martinez in July, will see his coaching staff also face significant changes, as confirmed by a source to the Associated Press on October 4, 2025.
The coaching overhaul includes the departures of pitching coach Jim Hickey, hitting coach Darnell Coles, bullpen coach Ricky Bones, first-base coach Gerardo Parra, and third-base coach Ricky Gutierrez. The Washington Post first reported these developments. The source requested anonymity as the team has yet to publicly announce its plans for on-field leadership in the upcoming season.
These changes come shortly after the Nationals appointed Paul Toboni as the new president of baseball operations. This decision follows a tumultuous period for the franchise, which has experienced six consecutive losing seasons since winning the World Series in 2019. The team finished the 2025 season with a record of 66-96, placing them 14th out of 15 clubs in the National League.
At a news conference on October 1, 2025, marking Toboni’s hiring, Nationals owner Mark Lerner expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s current trajectory. He stated, “We’re not happy where we are right now. That’s why we brought in Paul. And we’re going to get back to where we’re supposed to be. … Don’t give up on us; we’re going to be there again. Guaranteed.”
Prior to taking on the interim role, Cairo served as the Nationals’ bench coach since the previous year. He shared a close friendship with Martinez, who was also dismissed in July along with former president and general manager Mike Rizzo.
The Nationals’ commitment to rebuilding their team and coaching staff indicates a significant shift in strategy as they aim to improve their performance in the coming seasons. With the recent changes, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how the organization will move forward as they seek to regain their competitive edge in Major League Baseball.
