The Nationals have 16 days to show they belong in the buyer’s lane before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and the bullpen is the obvious place to look if they decide to add.
President of baseball operations Paul Toboni could still move pieces out depending on where Washington sits in the playoff race, but the size of any sell-off would likely change if the club is hanging around a wild card spot instead of fading out of the picture. If the Nationals do go shopping, relief help should be at the top of the list. Their bullpen was one of the worst in baseball in the first half, and that’s a big reason they’re currently on the outside looking in.
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden identified six relievers Washington could target, and the group comes with an appealing twist for a front office that may not want to rent arms for a few months. Most of the options would be long-term pieces, with only Antonio Senzatela able to reach the open market after this season, though he does have a club option for 2027. That kind of control matters, because none of these pitchers is going to come cheap.
If the Nationals are going to make the right call, two names stand out: Colorado Rockies right-hander Seth Halvorsen and Los Angeles Angels right-hander Sam Bachman.
Halvorsen is 26, which already makes him attractive for a team trying to build something beyond this season. He’s not scheduled to hit free agency until 2031, so Washington would be getting his prime years after he’s already picked up some valuable major league experience.
The downside is real, though. He’s had a rough season and is currently on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
Even so, the stuff is loud, and that kind of arm would fill a need in the Nationals’ bullpen. The concern is command, but if the coaching staff can help clean that up, the upside is substantial.
Bachman brings a different kind of intrigue. He was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 draft, and after injury problems pushed him into the bullpen, he’s been excellent this season.
Among the six relievers Bowden mentioned, Bachman has the best expected ERA, and his Stuff+ number sits above league average. With free agency not arriving until 2031, he could be more than a short-term fix; he has a chance to matter for Washington this year and well beyond it.
It’s not even certain the Nationals are focused on this exact group. But if they are, Halvorsen and Bachman should be the names at the top of the board.
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