The Washington Nationals could be headed for a busy finish before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and the direction of their plans has shifted with each loss in this series against the Atlanta Braves.
A stretch that included three straight defeats before Sunday’s finale has put the front office in a tougher spot. President of baseball operations Paul Toboni had been prepared to add established players for a playoff push, but the club’s fading postseason odds have opened the door to a different kind of deadline: one where some of Washington’s best trade chips might be on the move instead.
One of the names drawing the most attention is Luis Garcia Jr. The breakout slugger was scratched from Sunday’s lineup, and that absence does not appear tied to the knee injury he suffered the day before. Garcia has already been a popular target around the league, with contenders such as the Arizona Diamondbacks showing interest.
There had been reporting that Toboni was no longer taking calls on Garcia, but that came before Washington dropped four games in a row and saw its playoff chances take another hit. With Garcia now out of the lineup, a deal feels closer than ever.
Foster Griffin is another situation worth watching, though the picture is far less clear. The Nationals tried to work out an extension with him, but those talks went nowhere.
That once made a trade seem inevitable, especially after the club brought in Connelly Early. Later reporting, however, said Washington was still trying to reach a deal with the 2026 All-Star, which could lead the team to keep the left-hander past the deadline.
Even so, the Nationals are weighing what an extension would mean against what Griffin could fetch in a trade. After Tarik Skubal was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers late Saturday night, Griffin has moved even higher on the list of available starters for teams chasing help.
CJ Abrams, meanwhile, appears likely to stay put. Multiple reports have said a trade involving the star shortstop is not expected, and while Washington has listened to offers, the price to move the 25-year-old two-time All-Star would have to be enormous. Teams have been trying to meet that bar, but the latest information points to Abrams remaining in Washington through the deadline.
The Nationals are also looking for bullpen help, and that search includes both rental relievers and arms with team control. With the club hovering around the edge of contention, targeting longer-term pieces for the bullpen makes sense, and there should be no shortage of options available.
Washington may be willing to use its farm system to get there. The organization has depth in the outfield and in the middle infield, and sources indicate the front office is open to moving prospects if it means landing help that can matter beyond this season.
However this breaks, the Nationals look positioned to be active. They have several paths available, and the next 24 or so hours could bring more than one deal.
In Other News...
Red Sox Eye One More Deadline Move To Fix A Lingering Problem
The Nationals may find themselves back in familiar trade territory with Boston, which has already struck twice with Washington over the past nine months. Those earlier deals brought Jake Bennett and Curtis Mead to the Red Sox organization, and now the connection is resurfacing as the deadline approaches and Boston keeps searching for help in a spot that has lingered as a problem.
Luis Garcia Jr. is the latest Washington name drawing attention, and his strong season has only added to the appeal if the Red Sox decide to push again. Any talks would come with real moving parts, with names such as Jarren Duran or Patrick Sandoval floated as possible centerpieces, but nothing has been finalized yet as both sides weigh whether this is the kind of upgrade worth making late in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Just Made A Surprising Bet On Their Pitching Future
The Nationals have spent plenty of time talking about building the roster from the mound out, and Paul Toboni just put that philosophy into action with a move that says as much about the future as the present. In a trade with the Yankees, Washington targeted pitching depth and brought in four right-handed arms, a package aimed at strengthening a staff that still needs help and, in particular, more relief options that can move quickly.
Luis Garcia Jr. had been one of Washingtons more productive bats this season, so parting with him was no small call. But the return fits the organizations broader timeline, with Jack Cebert, Yovanny Cruz, Ben Grable and Jake Bird giving the Nationals a mix of pitchers at different stages of readiness and potential roles, the kind of bet teams make when they think the next wave on the mound matters more than the lineup today. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Still Have A Deadline Problem They May Finally Have To Pay For
The hours leading into the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline have already forced several clubs into hard choices, and Washington is among the teams still weighing how far to go. The Nationals have been a part of a broader market that includes Detroit trying to stay competitive after moving Tarik Skubal, the Angels continuing to shuffle pieces, and Texas looking for answers after a rough stretch, but Washingtons own decisions remain especially relevant as the front office sorts through what can still be done with the roster it has.
One name drawing attention is CJ Abrams, who is also in the middle of a career year and has already set a new personal best with 28 home runs. With the deadline clock running down, the Nationals are in that uncomfortable spot where interest around their players is real, the market is moving, and the next step could reshape the infield picture as much as any move they have made so far. [Read more 🡒]