Expectations weren’t all that lofty when Mike Rizzo took over D.C. baseball operations back in 2009. It’s safe to say he has exceeded them. His first roster matched the ’08 outfit with a brutal 59-win effort. That ramped to 69-93 and then 80-81 in the ensuing two seasons. The Nats broke out in 2012 and haven’t had a losing campaign since. There has been quite a lot of drama over the years, but the D.C. organization finally broke through a postseason curse with a stunning run to a title in 2019.
Rizzo’s history on the trade market includes some duds, but also quite a few slam dunks. He’s still not under contract beyond the 2020 season, though the expectation remains that he’ll end up working out another extension to remain at the helm.
2009 Season
- Acquired RHP Logan Kensing from the Marlins for RHP Kyle Gunderson
- Acquired 1B/OF Mike Morse from the Mariners for OF Ryan Langerhans
- Acquired LHP Sean Burnett and OF Nyjer Morgan from the Pirates for OF Lastings Milledge and RHP Joel Hanrahan
- Acquired LHP Aaron Johnson from the Marlins for 1B Nick Johnson
- Acquired RHPs Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian from the Rockies for LHP Joe Beimel
- Acquired OFs Daryle Ward and Norris Hopper from the White Sox for cash
- Acquired RHP Luis Garcia and a PTBNL (LHP Victor Garante) from the Dodgers for INF Ronnie Belliard
- Acquired C Jamie Burke from the Mariners for cash
2009-10 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Brian Bruney from the Yankees in exchange for Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffman
2010 Season
- Acquired C Wilson Ramos and LHP Joe Testa from the Twins for RHP Matt Capps
- Acquired RHPs Tanner Roark & Ryan Tatusko from the Rangers for INF Cristian Guzman
- Acquired SS Brian Bixler from the Pirates for cash
2010-11 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Henry Rodriguez and OF Corey Brown from the Athletics for OF Josh Willingham
- Acquired LHP Tom Gorzelanny from the Cubs for RHP A.J. Morris, LHP Graham Hicks and OF Michael Burgess
- Acquired RHP Adam Olbrychowski from the Yankees for OF Justin Maxwell
- Acquired INF/OF Cutter Dykstra and cash from the Brewers for OF Nyjer Morgan
- Acquired RHP Erik Davis and cash from the Padres in exchange for INF Alberto Gonzalez
2011 Season
- Acquired OF Gregor Blanco from the Royals for cash
- Acquired OF Jonny Gomes and cash from the Reds for OF Bill Rhinehart and LHP Chris Manno
- Acquired SS Zach Walters from the Diamondbacks for RHP Jason Marquis
- Acquired OF Erik Komatsu from the Brewers for INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr.
2011-12 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Ryan Perry from the Tigers for RHP Collin Balester
- Acquired LHP Gio Gonzalez and RHP Robert Gilliam from the Athletics for RHPs A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, C Derek Norris and LHP Tommy Milone
2012 Season
- Acquired C Kurt Suzuki and cash from the Athletics for C David Freitas
2012-13 Offseason
- Acquired OF Denard Span from the Twins for RHP Alex Meyer
- Acquired RHPs A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen and LHP Ian Krol from the Athletics in a three-team deal that sent 1B/OF Mike Morse from the Nats to the Mariners and C John Jaso from the Mariners to the Athletics
2013 Season
- Acquired RHP Ian Dickson from the Cubs for RHP Henry Rodriguez
- Acquired OF Scott Hairston from the Cubs for RHP Ivan Pineyro
- Acquired OF David DeJesus from the Cubs for cash
- Acquired LHP Matthew Spann from the Rays for OF David DeJesus
- Acquired RHP Dakota Bacus from the Athletics for C Kurt Suzuki
2013-14 Offseason
- Acquired OF John Wooten from the Athletics for LHP Fernando Abad
- Acquired RHP Doug Fister from the Tigers for LHP Robbie Ray, INF Steve Lombardozzi and LHP Ian Krol
- Acquired LHP Jerry Blevins from the Athletics for OF Billy Burns
- Acquired C Jose Lobaton, LHP Felipe Vazquez and OF Drew Vettleson from the Rays for RHP Nate Karns
- Acquired INF Brandon Laird from the Royals for cash
2014 Season
- Acquired 2B/SS Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians for SS Zach Walters
- Acquired LHP Matt Thornton from Yankees for cash
2014-15 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Abel De Los Santos and INF Chris Bostick from the Rangers for LHP Ross Detwiler
- Acquired SS Trea Turner (as a PTBNL) and RHP Joe Ross from the Padres in three-team deal that sent OF Steven Souza Jr. and LHP Travis Ott to the Rays
- Acquired INF Yunel Escobar from the Athletics for RHP Tyler Clippard
- Acquired C Dan Butler from the Red Sox for LHP Daniel Rosenbaum
- Acquired OF Matt den Dekker from the Mets for LHP Jerry Blevins
2015 Season
- Acquired OF Darin Mastroianni from the Phillies for cash
- Acquired RHP David Carpenter from the Yankees for INF Tony Renda
- Acquired RHP Jonathan Papelbon from the Phillies for RHP Nick Pivetta
2015-16 Offseason
- Acquired RHPs Trevor Gott and Michael Brady from the Angels for INF Yunel Escobar and cash
- Acquired OF Ben Revere from the Blue Jays for RHP Drew Storen
2016 Season
- Acquired LHP Marc Rzepczynski from the Athletics for INF Max Shrock
- Acquired C Taylor Gushue from the Pirates for SS Chris Bostick
- Acquired RHP Mark Melancon from the Pirates for LHPs Felipe Vazquez and Taylor Hearn
2016-17 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Jimmy Cordero from the Phillies for a PTBNL (RHP Mario Sanchez)
- Acquired C Derek Norris from the Padres for RHP Pedro Avila
- Acquired OF Adam Eaton from the White Sox for RHPs Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning
- Acquired RHPs Austin L. Adams and Kyle McGowin from the Angels for 2B/SS Danny Espinosa
- Acquired LHP Enny Romero from the Rays for RHP Jeffrey Rosa
- Acquired OF Ryan Raburn from the White Sox for cash
2017 Season
- Acquired LHP Sean Doolittle and RHP Ryan Madson from the Athletics for RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Jesus Luzardo and 2B Sheldon Neuse
- Acquired INF Howie Kendrick and cash from the Phillies for LHP McKenzie Mills and international bonus pool space
- Acquired RHP Brandon Kintzler from the Twins in exchange for LHP Tyler Watson and $500K of international bonus pool space
2017-18 Offseason
- Acquired INF Matt Reynolds from the Mets for cash
2018 Season
- Acquired RHP Kelvin Herrera from the Royals for 3B Kelvin Gutierrez, OF Blake Perkins and RHP Yohanse Morel
- Acquired RHP Jacob Condra-Bogan from the Royals for OF Brian Goodwin
- Acquired RHP Jhon Romero from the Cubs for RHP Brandon Kintzler
- Acquired INF Andruw Monasterio from the Cubs for 2B Daniel Murphy and cash
- Acquired RHP Andrew Istler from the Dodgers for Ryan Madson
- Acquired C/1B KJ Harrison and INF Gilbert Lara from the Brewers in exchange for LHP Gio Gonzalez and $250K of international bonus pool space
2018-19 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Kyle Barraclough from the Marlins for $1MM of international bonus pool space
- Acquired C Yan Gomes from the Indians for RHP Jefry Rodriguez, OF Daniel Johnson and a PTBNL (INF Andruw Monasterio)
- Acquired RHP Tanner Rainey from the Reds for RHP Tanner Roark
2019 Season
- Acquired LHP Nick Wells from the Mariners for RHP Austin L. Adams
- Acquired RHP Daniel Hudson from the Blue Jays for RHP Kyle Johnston
- Acquired LHP Roenis Elias from the Mariners for LHP Taylor Guilbeau and RHP Elvis Alvarado
- Acquired RHP Hunter Strickland from the Mariners for LHP Aaron Fletcher
2019-20 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Ryne Harper from the Twins in exchange for RHP Hunter McMahon
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With that exhausting exercise out of the way — it’s time for MLBTR readers to weigh in! What grade does the president of baseball operations of the reigning World Champs get for his trading efforts? (Link to poll for Trade Rumors mobile app users.)
Curious to look back on additional GMs and their trade histories?
We’ve already polled on Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen, recently fired Astros president Jeff Luhnow, Brewers president of baseball ops David Stearns, Angels GM Billy Eppler, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, Tigers GM Al Avila, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, Phillies GM Matt Klentak, Padres GM A.J. Preller, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Rays GM Erik Neander, ex-Red Sox front office leader Dave Dombrowski, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, Reds GM Dick Williams, Orioles GM Mike Elias, former Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart, and Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.