The Washington Nationals continue their hunt to replace one of the steadiest figures in the organization; Mike Rizzo. The former general manager joined the front office as an assistant general manager in 2007 before taking over as GM in 2009. He held that position until being fired in the middle of the 2025 season, even after winning a World Series with him in charge.
The Nationals have been exploring several candidates for the top front office job. One of the most discussed possibilities was Chicago Cubs GM Carter Hawkins. Hawkins came highly recommended for his strong background in player development and scouting, paired with a conservative and analytical philosophy. His experience managing a rebuilding roster made him a natural fit for Washington’s long-term vision.
However, the Nationals’ hunt for a new general manager took a notable turn this week as Hawkins officially removed himself from consideration. According to Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan, Hawkins is expected to remain with the Cubs. This decision narrows the Nationals’ pool of external candidates and highlights the challenge of attracting executives willing to lead a franchise amidst a lengthy rebuild. Unlike the Cubs, who boast a roster closer to playoff contention, the Nationals remain deep in a rebuilding phase, which may have influenced Hawkins’ choice to stay in Chicago.
Boston's assistant GM Eddie Romero is the latest name to join the fray of possible candidates for Washington. Romero joined the Red Sox in 2006 as an assistant in international and professional scouting. He was then promoted to director of international scouting, where he served as a coordinator and assistant director of Latin American operations, and the assistant director of Latin American operations/international scouting. Since 2018, Romero has served as the executive vice president and assistant general manager.
His baseball roots are deeply tied into scouting and, importantly, international scouting. When teams look for a general manager, it is ideal that the person usually has a scouting background.
He has his fingerprints all over the Red Sox international signees, including stars currently in the league. According to his bio, he was instrumental in signing Rafael Devers, Manuel Margot, Yoan Moncada, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Brayan Bello, to name a few.
When Boston had a regime change after 2023, Romero interviewed to replace Chaim Bloom as the chief baseball officer before Craig Breslow got the role.
Finding a general manager is a long process, and Romero is one of many names who will interview for the gig. It's notable that reports have come out that the Nationals interviewed Romero since it was previously unknown if any interviews had been conducted or not. That includes Toboni, who is also a top candidate to become the Red Sox's new GM.