The Philadelphia Phillies have had their fair share of drama this season. It's difficult to argue, however, that it has been a bad campaign for the defending National League East champs, as they sit first in the division at 53-37 entering play on Monday. Their first half certainly hasn't been as bad as the division rival Washington Nationals, who will now be helmed by former Phillie Miguel Cairo.
After a tumultuous first half, ownership had finally seen enough and wanted a fresh approach, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The team fired longtime general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on Sunday.
Despite boasting a roster of talented young players like MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews, the 2025 season went very sideways for the Nationals. They dropped like a rock in June, going 7-19. At 37-53 entering play on Monday, they're dead last in the NL East, 16 games behind the Phillies and 11.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.
Former Phillies infielder Miguel Cairo named interim manager by last-place Nationals
Cairo, 51, who played with the Phillies in 2009, was named the Nationals' interim manager on Monday, per MLB.com's Jessica Camerato, by interim general manager Mike DeBartolo. Cairo has been with the Nationals since signing on as bench coach in 2024.
Cairo had a 17-year MLB career that began in 1996 with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he signed as a non-drafted free agent. In addition to joining the Phillies, he also suited up for the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, and Cincinnati Reds.
Cairo signed a minor league contract with the Phillies at the beginning of spring training in 2009, in his age-35 season. He began the year as a veteran bench piece for the loaded defending World Series champions. Appearing in 15 games, mostly as a pinch-hitter (he got one start at second base), he went 2-for-17 before being designated for assignment and being outrighted to Triple-A.
The Phillies brought Cairo back to the majors for the stretch run. He hit .357 (10-for-28), successfully spelling the regulars over the final month of the season. He appeared in four games in the Phillies' postseason run to the World Series, making five plate appearances without logging a hit. In 1,490 regular season MLB games, Cairo slashed .264/.314/.361 with 41 home runs, 394 RBIs, 504 runs scored and 139 stolen bases.
As for when the Phillies will see Cairo's Nationals this season, the division opponents will play each other seven times in August. The Phillies head to Washington for a four-game series from Aug. 14-17 and then play host for three games from Aug. 22-24. The Phillies, who began the season with a series win in Washington, lead the season series 4-2.