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By Jeff Todd | at
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Dookie Howser, MD
What would it take for the Nationals to grab Kimbrel?
Jeff Todd
Don’t see the Sox moving him at all. More likely they’ll add a significant pen arm and keep him also, if anything.
jose carlos
Maybe for Daniel Murphy who could platoon at first and DH with Hanley Ramirez the, Red Sox would accept a trade for Craig Kimbrel. Additionally, I agree with Jeff that the Sox will definitely pick up a significant pen arm, hopefully Kenley Jansen, to solidify the 8th and 9th innings whether they trade Kimbrel or not.
jd396
In what galaxy is Daniel Murphy a platoon partner?
jose carlos
Sorry, maybe the correct word should have been “rotating” between 1st base and DH. which by the way would allow both players to keep fresh during the long season. When your are the Red Sox you can afford to do this.
PieroBr
Since when did the DH spot appear in the National League? There is no way the Nats pick up Hanely Ramirez but Murphy could end up at first base if he continues to hit the way he has over the last 2 seasons.
A'sfaninUK
Strasburg probably woudlnt have gotten hurt if Dusty didn’t abuse him by making him throw 71 pitches over 1.2 innings in that Rockies game. He was toast after that.
vtadave
He was toast before that probably. In his two starts before that, he allowed 10 runs in 10 innings.
jonscriff
Wouldn’t mind a Garder- low level prospect for Gio Gonzalez and Revere.
slider32
I can see the Nats matching up on either McCann or Gardner, I think the Yanks would be looking for a young controllable starter like either Feede,Glover,or Voth. and a lower prospect. Both Yankees are solid veterans that can help the Nats win a championship. The Yankees are rebuilding and don’t need a short term fix. Gardner has a team friendly contract while any trade for McCann would cost the Yanks 5 million a season or 10 million to be paid by the Yanks. I do see somebody getting both of these players this winter, if not the Nats maybe Gardner to the Astros or Giants for Gardner. They will be appealing because their contracts will be of shorter term than the top free agents that their equal in talent too.
DC Native
Catcher: I don’t think the Nats should go after a catcher. McCann’s old and would not fit in with the Nats clubhouse, especially since his days with the Braves and calling intentional HBPs against Harper. Defensive catchers, especially good receiving catchers, are nearly more valuable than average defense and above average offense. Give Severino a shot at the everyday duty.
Closer: Easiest choice is to go hard for Melancon. We already know what he’ll bring and that he meshes well with the club. I don’t think there’s a chance the Nats will go after a lower level than Melancon, Chapman, Jansen, or Davis (thru trade). They need to get one of these 4.
Whatever position Turner doesn’t play: Best case is move Turner to everyday SS duty and move Espinosa to a utility INF. There are much better options to fill CF than SS. Top target in my book would be Charlie Blackmon – high OBP, steal threat, power. Nats would need to give up somewhere in the [Lopez or Fedde] & [Goodwin or Difo] & maybe one or two other lower level prospects. I’d also see how much the Rockies would be interested in Michael Taylor, since his window with the Nats has been closing quickly this year.
Bench/Bullpen: I think the Nats will make offers to both Drew and Heisey to bring back. They will need to look at a power lefty bat and I do like Moss, but I think he’ll be too pricy for bench duty and think they’re fine with Clint in this role. I do think they should bring back Marc Rzepczynski as a lefty specialist.
jose carlos
Your options and suggestions are very interesting, but I see the Nats now with a very well structured team with only few holes left on their roster in order to accommodate the team towards another post season in 2017. Like Jeff Todd said, the fortune of having such a strong rotation with plenty of pitching depth allows them to trade for basically anyone needed to fill these holes. Also. this year I see that having a player like Daniel Murphy aboard who will probably receive top 10 NL-MVP in votes, as an exceptional candidate for a trade due to his present high value considering he will turn 32 next April. I would be surprise if he continues hitting the remaining 2 years in his contract the same as now. Besides the Kimbrel trade option indicated above I’m sure the Red Sox, who needs an Ortiz replacement, could set up a different trade for a group of players that Rizzo might value and use to fill the holes that may pop up, saving at the same time 29.5 M left in Murphy’s contract. For example, the Sox have 2 young defensive catchers such as Sandy Leon (who originally signed with the Nats) and Christian Vazquez who is getting stronger and better after his recent Tommy John, that could be packaged, one of them, with some other major league ready players and/or prospects.
PieroBr
I’m not sure they need Blackmon? Stevenson hit .400 and had the most hits in the AZ Fall league which is THE penultimate where the best prospects show up. He is a speed / contact guy capable of high OBP from the left side and is a CF. He looks ready to me and if I were Rizzo I would give that prospect a chance to prove it.
With Werth hitting age 38 and RZimm showing the effects of catastrophic injury and age the Nats lack an impact bat outside of a hopefully resurgent Bryce Harper and another season of Daniel Murphy the almost MVP! The need an impact right handed bat. There isn’t any in their system. That plus a solid left-handed ace like Sale … then a closer.
Catcher is covered by Pedro Severino and the other prospects. No need to go outside. Wieters looks like an interesting guy for an AL team with a weak DH spot not the Nats.
Outfield with Andrew Stevens, Victor Robles and hopefully young left handed hitter Juan Soto should be covered … along with Goodwin … yet Soto could also move to first base … but I think Murphy ends up there and Werth becomes a reliable bench bat and 4th outfielder with the acquisition of a reasonably big bat. One could see Stevenson moving to CF and Turner moving to second base … I don’t think he’ll be a shortstop …
A lot could happen including big deals where these prospects get moved for a Sale or some other player.
Tiger_diesel92
Gardner for gio?
Tiger_diesel92
They’re both decent still
lonechicken
What’s it take for the Nats to get Sale?
There’s a ton of organizational depth at CF and right handed starter. Nobody was as ready with the bat as Turner, but no sense in wasting another year of him away from middle infield unless the same situation arises and he’s needed there.
PieroBr
Gonzalez, Turner, one of Giolito or Lopez … Ross has injury issues so he won’t be tradable. The Sox are rebuilding so they might ask for some of the better prospects lower down like Juan Soto or Victor Robles. It’ll be expensive that’s for sure.
rdingram95
I think the Nationals should trade for Blackmon. Trade Gonzalez because the Rockies need pitching, and the nationals have been trying to get more contact driven in the lineup. I think it makes sense for both sides. Blackmon also under control until 2019. Nationals may have to throw in a prospect, but the window to win doesn’t stay open forever.
PieroBr
Andrew Stevenson is ready … why go for Blackmon?