The Washington Nationals are back from the All-Star break on Friday, and what happens next could tell the front office a lot about whether this group deserves help before the Aug. 3 trade deadline - or whether the club should start leaning the other way.
At 48-49, the postseason path is still a steep climb. But Washington’s biggest problem is easy to spot: the bullpen has not been good enough.
The return of veteran reliever Max Kranick should help, and right-hander Jake Irvin is also expected back soon, giving the staff a little more breathing room. Even so, the Nationals still need arms, which is why Jim Bowden of The Athletic named six relievers the team could target if it decides to buy.
Bowden’s top fit for Washington is Antonio Senzatela, and the case is obvious. The veteran right-hander "has made a seamless transition from starter to reliever this season," and his first half backs that up: a 3.31 ERA in 30 appearances and 49 innings.
He can work multiple innings, which would be a real asset for a Nationals bullpen that could use exactly that kind of flexibility. He also brings a 20.8% K rate, giving Washington some swing-and-miss ability it’s been missing.
The catch is the money. Senzatela is making $12 million this season, and even if Washington only picked up part of that salary, he’d still land near the top of the roster in pay.
That makes the fit tricky from an ownership standpoint. If the green light comes, though, he’s a name to watch.
Another Rockies arm on the list is Seth Halvorsen, and he comes with a different appeal. At 26, he still has multiple years of club control left and is another season away from arbitration, which fits the kind of long-view move Washington would like to make if it buys.
The performance has been uneven, though. Halvorsen has bounced between the majors and minors this season after being a key part of Colorado’s bullpen last year, and he’s sitting on a 4.74 ERA in 21 outings and 19 innings.
His 17.7% strikeout rate and 15.6% walk rate need work. He was also placed on the 15-day injured list on July 4 with right shoulder inflammation.
Matt Gage is the lone lefty Bowden mentioned, but the numbers and the injury situation make him a tougher sell. The 33-year-old has taken a step back this year, going from a 3.19 ERA across 33 outings in 2025 to a 5.60 mark in 34 appearances this season.
He also won’t be arbitration eligible until 2028, so the control is appealing. Still, he’s currently on the 15-day injured list with a strain in his throwing elbow, which is a major red flag.
Keaton Winn stands out as one of the more interesting possibilities. He was developed as a starter, but after ulnar nerve transposition surgery in 2024, he returned to the majors as a reliever and has looked right at home.
He finished the first half with a 3.09 ERA in 31 outings and 32 innings. At 28 and not arbitration-eligible until 2028, he checks a lot of boxes for a Nationals team looking for both help now and value later.
He’s also back with the Giants after missing a month with a right elbow strain.
Sam Bachman may have the highest ceiling of the group, at least on paper. The Angels took him No. 9 overall in the 2021 draft, and he was once ranked as their No. 2 prospect in 2022.
Injuries have complicated everything since then, from back spasms to shoulder inflammation that led to surgery, and even a thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosis. But he has been effective this season, posting a 4.14 ERA in 35 outings and 41 1/3 innings.
He also isn’t arbitration-eligible until next year, which keeps him in the long-term conversation for Washington.
Then there’s Chase Silseth, who has turned in the kind of season that gets attention. He shifted to full-time relief this year after coming up as a starting pitching prospect, and the results have been strong: a 3.03 ERA over 42 appearances and 35 2/3 innings, plus a 28.8% strikeout rate against a 12.8% walk rate.
That’s especially notable after elbow surgery in 2024. Like several others on Bowden’s list, he comes with multiple years of club control, which could make him a more realistic trade target if the Nationals decide to pay the price.
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