With the Aug. 3 trade deadline closing in, the Nationals find themselves in a spot that rarely comes neatly packaged. They’re 52-52 entering Saturday, only three games back in the playoff chase, and that kind of middle ground has opened the door to a strange but very real possibility: Washington could add and subtract before the deadline.
That’s the direction the new front office appears to be leaning. The plan is not to tear anything down in a season that has kept the club around .500, but it also isn’t a full-on push to go all-in. According to The Athletic, the Nationals are expected to make some additions while staying open to moving pieces as well.
Those additions may not be dramatic, and the report makes clear they could be offset by what Washington is willing to sell. Still, the fact that the Nationals are even considering buying at all says plenty about where they sit right now. The big-league roster needs pitching help in both the rotation and the bullpen, and the bullpen in particular has been described as leaky.
At the same time, other clubs are watching Nationals players closely. The report says All-Stars Foster Griffin and C.J. Abrams are drawing interest, which adds another layer to the balancing act for new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
There’s also a notable wrinkle involving Griffin. In related news, “extension talks ... fizzled quickly,” between Griffin and the Nats, according to the New York Post.
Griffin, 30, has been one of Washington’s best offseason additions. He signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal after returning to the majors following a stint in Japan, and he’s delivered a strong season: 11-2 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 117 ⅓ innings.
Elsewhere, the Athletics made a quiet move of their own, signing left-hander Dallas Keuchel to a minor-league deal, per ESPN.
Keuchel, a former Cy Young winner, hasn’t appeared in the majors since a four-start run with the Brewers in 2024, when he posted a 5.40 ERA. He spent 2025 in Triple-A with the Royals organization, going 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts. He has not pitched in affiliated ball this season and is 38 years old.
In Other News...
Phillies Deadline Search Just Got Awkward In A Hurry
Foster Griffins recent start drew some extra attention, and not just from the Nationals own dugout. Scouts from both the Rays and Phillies were on hand, a sign that the left-hander is very much on the radar as the deadline approaches after a strong season in Washington, one that has put him in the middle of plenty of trade chatter.
The Nationals are listening on Griffin and other players as they weigh whether to make strategic moves, but their position in the race complicates everything. Griffin has been one of their better arms, and with Washington still hanging around in the playoff picture, the front office has reason to be cautious about moving him, especially with a division rival lurking in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Kid Gets His Shot With The Team He Grew Up Watching
Chris Hacopians path to the Nationals has been years in the making, and now the 21-year-old second baseman from Montgomery County is officially in the organization he grew up watching. Drafted by Washington, Hacopian has already signed, taken part in the clubs Draft class camp in Florida and made the rounds at Nationals Park for a press conference and game, a quick introduction to the place he hopes will become home for a long time.
For Hacopian, the moment carries the kind of personal weight that goes beyond a typical draft story. He has talked about how excited he is to join the Nationals and about his goal of becoming a high-level Major League Baseball player, and the early steps have already given him a first look at the expectations and opportunity ahead. What comes next will be the real test, but for a Maryland kid who grew up with this team in his backyard, the starting point is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Make Another Bullpen Change With Late Innings Still Unsettled
The Nationals made another bullpen adjustment this week as they continue searching for dependable late-inning answers, a familiar theme for a team still trying to settle its relief mix. Paxton Schultz is back from Triple-A Rochester after being claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays earlier this season, giving Washington another arm to evaluate as it heads into a meaningful stretch against Toronto.
Schultz has looked sharper in the minors than he has in his major league work, which is part of why the club keeps cycling through options in the back end of games. The corresponding move leaves Washington with another opening to fill, and it underscores just how unsettled the bullpen remains as the Nationals try to piece together enough stability to get through tight games. [Read more 🡒]