The Washington Nationals on Monday promoted bench coach Miguel Cairo to interim manager, installing the 17-year Major League veteran one day after dismissing skipper Davey Martinez and longtime general manager Mike Rizzo. Senior vice-president Mike DeBartolo, elevated to interim GM, made the announcement as the club looks to arrest its sixth consecutive losing season. Cairo, 51, joined Washington’s staff in 2024 after serving as the Chicago White Sox bench coach and acting manager, guiding that club to an 18-16 mark over the final 34 games of the 2022 campaign. The Venezuelan native played for nine franchises from 1996-2012, appearing in 1,490 games and posting a .264 career batting average. Martinez and Rizzo were fired Sunday after a weekend sweep by the Boston Red Sox dropped the Nationals to 37-53, the worst record in the National League East. Cairo will debut Tuesday in St. Louis with the same coaching staff and 72 games remaining. DeBartolo now oversees preparations for next week’s amateur draft, where Washington owns the No. 1 overall pick, and the 31 July trade deadline.