The Washington Nationals’ trade-deadline plan may be getting more complicated by the day.
A four-game losing streak, capped by three straight losses to the Atlanta Braves before Sunday’s finale, has nudged Washington to two games under .500 and 3.5 games behind the final NL wild card spot. That slide could influence how president of baseball operations Paul Toboni approaches the deadline. He had already been reported as looking for major league help, and that still appears to be the direction, but the skid also opens the door for a different kind of move if Toboni decides to thread the needle.
If the Nationals do stay in buying mode, bullpen help is clearly on the radar. Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reported that Washington is taking a broad approach and looking at both expiring and controllable relievers.
That market should give them options. ESPN’s list of the 100 best trade deadline candidates included 38 relievers, and even after the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Camilo Doval on Saturday, there are still 37 names left in that group.
Of those 37, 24 have at least another year of club control. Fifteen are under club control for multiple seasons, while 13 are expiring rentals.
Six of those relievers belong to the Miami Marlins, though whether Miami actually sells remains unclear. The Marlins are just 1.5 games back from the final NL wild card spot, but they have a history of making deals, so it would not be a surprise if at least one of their bullpen pieces moved.
Washington’s exact targets are still unknown. Colorado Rockies starter-turned-reliever Antonio Senzatela has been mentioned as a fit, but there has not been anything concrete yet about which controllable arms the Nationals are chasing.
So the picture is still fuzzy, but the deadline is close and Toboni’s first year in charge is about to be tested. If Washington can use this moment to add long-term help to the bullpen, that appears to be the path it wants to explore.
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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 🡒]