Miguel Cairo said he has not yet been told anything about his future with the Nationals, leaving the interim manager to guide his team through one more game this afternoon and then wait to learn his fate from a new front office that is about to take over.

“Today, I’ve got a game to manage, and I’m going to do my best to get a W. And tomorrow, we don’t know,” he said in advance of the season finale against the White Sox. “Whatever is coming next, we’re not in control. There’s only one in control, and that’s the man upstairs.”

Cairo took over for good friend Davey Martinez when the latter was fired July 6, reluctant to accept the job until Martinez gave him his blessing. He enters today’s finale with a 29-42 record after Martinez went 37-53, with a chance to secure a winning September if the Nats are victorious today.

The 51-year-old slowly began managing in his own style over the season’s final three months, making lineup and bullpen decisions that likely differed from what Martinez would have done. He also made sure his position players took full infield and outfield defense prior to batting practice every day, though the Nationals continued to rank among the majors’ worst defensive units regardless of the amount of work they put in.

With Paul Toboni set to be officially announced as the organization’s new president of baseball operations this week, Cairo and his entire coaching staff should learn their fates relatively soon. The expectation is that Toboni will hire a new manager, who in turn will hire a new coaching staff. But until told otherwise, Cairo remains a candidate.

Asked if he believes he’s earned the opportunity to come back, Cairo responded: “I don’t look at it that way. I look at it like I’ve got a job to do, and I did my best. When you have success, all you ask of yourself is to do your best. And I think I did my best. When I go out there, I try to put everyone in the best possible position to succeed, and the team. I don’t have any regrets. I know we did everything possible to make them better.”

* Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement today, with one final opportunity to take the field in the ballpark where he spent much of his career.

Taylor, 34, is batting ninth for the White Sox in the season finale, having hit .199 with 20 doubles, nine homers and 34 RBIs in 133 games in this, his 12th major league season. He reached the coveted 10-year service time mark earlier this season.

Originally the Nationals’ sixth-round pick in 2009 out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Taylor reached the big leagues in 2014 and proceeded to spend parts of seven seasons in D.C., batting .237 with 53 homers, 184 RBIs and 77 stolen bases in 574 total games.

The smooth-fielding center fielder saved his best work for October: In 16 postseason games with the Nats, he batted .316 (12-for-38) with four homers and 10 RBIs. He famously hit a grand slam through the wind at Wrigley Field to help lead the Nationals to victory in Game 4 of the 2017 National League Division Series, made a diving catch for the final out of the clinching Game 5 of the 2019 NLDS and homered in his one and only at-bat in the World Series.

After losing out the starting center field job to Victor Robles at the end of the 2020 season, Taylor went on a nomadic voyage to finish out his career. He played for four clubs (Royals, Twins, Pirates, White Sox) over the last five seasons, winning a Gold Glove Award with Kansas City in 2021 and hitting 21 homers for Minnesota in 2023.

Taylor said he made the decision to retire a few months ago and relished the opportunity to finish his career at Nationals Park, where fans have applauded him each time he has come up to bat this weekend.

“To be able to play the last games of my career in this ballpark in front of these fans is just the icing on the cake,” he said. “I think it’s all part of God’s perfect plan. I’m very grateful for that. …

“Nats fans have been unbelievable to me since day one. I feel like I grew up here. Drafted at 18. I spent a good portion of my career here. It’s very special to come back. I’m not expecting of anything like that. I’ve been back before, and it’s not like I’m a Hall of Fame player for this team. But they’ve been amazing to me since day one, and I really appreciate that.”