3. Mike Rizzo, Washington Nationals
- 2015 Payroll: $163,768,657 – 6th in MLB
- Assumed Position: March 4, 2009
- Major Accomplishments: 2012 and 2014 NL East Champions
When discussing the “here and now,” Mike Rizzo is the baseball boss in the spotlight.
There is no other club who enjoys a greater mix of big-league talent and organizational depth than the Washington Nationals. Their starting rotation is the best on paper by a mile, yet their minor league system is ranked frequently in the Top 10, even Top 5 at times.
It makes sense. Rizzo fancies himself a baseball scout; a guy who has the best eye for baseball talent in all the land.
Rizzo, of course, made his mark by utilizing his back to back first-overall selections in the rookie draft on Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Baseball scout or not, those two were no-brainers.
Since then, the payroll has ballooned to sixth-best in baseball while maintaining a very dangerous farm.
Rizzo’s work has already generated success.
Not once, but twice the Nats have taken home the NL East championship. This includes 98-wins in 2012 (which led all of baseball), and 96-wins last season (which led the NL).
It’s no secret. Rizzo has elevated his Nats into a “win-now” team.
His level of success will directly come down to how they fair in during the postseasons of 2015, 2016 and beyond. As much regular season success the people of D.C. have seen, October heroics have eluded them.
Next: No. 2