TAMPA — Mike Rizzo, the architect of the Washington Nationals’ World Series championship, now would like to turn around the fate of the franchise the Nationals defeated to accomplish their historic feat.

Rizzo is interviewing for the Houston Astros’ vacant general manager job Monday in Houston, two persons with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports. The persons spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Astros want to keep their search private.

The Nationals beat the Astros in 2019 in seven games for their first World Series title in the nation’s capital just weeks before the Astros’ sign-stealing cheating scandal was revealed, and two months before they were punished.

Rizzo, 65, has since informed friends of his deep desire to work for the Astros since the firing of GM Dana Brown in August. Rizzo has strong respect for Astros owner Jim Crane, believing they’ll continue to spend money to be a contender having reached the postseason nine times in the past 10 years – including eight division titles. Rizzo and his family also live in West Palm Beach, Florida, site of the Astros' (and Nationals) spring-training complex.

Rizzo, lauded for his strong scouting acumen, nearly singlehandedly turned the Nationals from a laughingstock to one of baseball’s most successful franchises during his tenure as their general manager and president of baseball operations.

He joined the Nationals in 2006 as an assistant general manager, replacing Jim Bowden as GM in 2009, and becoming president in 2013. The Nationals had almost instant success under Rizzo. He inherited a team that won 59 games in 2009, and increased their win total by at least 10 games each season for three years, winning 98 games in 2012. They won four National League East titles in six years, culminating with their World Series title.

Rizzo, who drafted Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg in back-to-back years with the No. 1 overall pick, engineered a trade that set up the Nationals’ future when he traded Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres in a six-player package that included future All-Stars James Wood and CJ. Abrams, along with starter MacKenzie Gore.

Rizzo’s tenure ended after 19 years when he and manager Dave Martinez were fired on July 6, 2025, after going 37-53 and missing the postseason five consecutive years.

Rizzo became a candidate for the Athletics’ opening this off-season, but pulled himself out of the running after his interview, saying his preference was to join the Astros.

The Astros, who began their job search after losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Chicago White Sox, have also interviewed Matt Klein, assistant GM of the Milwaukee Brewers. They have had three GMs since Jeff Luhnow was fired in the wake of their cheating scandal in 2020. Their preference is to have a GM in place by the time of the GM meetings on Nov. 9 in Las Vegas.