The Nationals placed first baseman Mark Reynolds on revocable trade waivers earlier this week but pulled him back after he was claimed by the Braves, reports Jon Heyman of Fancred (via Twitter). That Reynolds has already been pulled off waivers makes him unlikely to change hands at this point. While the Nats could try to pass him through waivers a second time, those waivers would no longer be revocable.
Reynolds, 35, is hitting .255/.335/.497 with 11 home runs in 172 plate appearances with the Nats after signing a minor league deal back on April 17. He eventually played his way onto the MLB roster and has rewarded the organization’s minimal investment of a $1MM base salary with a solid season of production — largely in a bench role.
Reynolds’ minimal salary gave the Nationals little reason to let go of him as a means of cost savings — he’s owed about $209K more as of this writing — and the Nats may simply not have been keen on helping the chances of a division rival in this manner. While the Nats’ playoff hopes are obviously slim, at best, they’re still technically within striking distance of the Braves at eight games out of first place. It’s extremely unlikely that they’ll overcome that deficit, but teams have erased larger leads with less time to play in the past. Beyond that, fan reaction to simply letting Reynolds go to a division rival in exchange for a mere couple hundred thousand dollars would surely have been quite negative.
Even if Reynolds is extremely likely to stay put, though, the Nationals may not yet be done dealing. The Washington Post’s Jorge Castillo reported earlier today that Gio Gonzalez, Matt Wieters and Ryan Zimmerman have cleared waivers. Wieters and especially Zimmerman may be long shots as trade pieces, but Gonzalez could be viewed as a potential rotation option for a contender down the stretch. It also remains to be seen whether the Nationals will part with Kelvin Herrera, who is a free agent at season’s end and will not be receiving a qualifying offer.
Nats are salty.
The Washington Whiners
Individual below wanted to ask about which team you rooted for. I assumed Phillies, Braves, or Red Sox.
Seems like The Braves’ brass is admitting that Duvall sucks.
Duvall still has options. You can’t have too many bench instant run (aka power) bats for September (with the expanded roster) and to pick from for October roster.
Agreed. Reds did Braves a favor by taking DFA guys off their 40-man at season’s end. Total wash of a trade for both teams, with potential for a hot bat for September/October, if he starts hitting, and injury cover. There’s no way to trash this trade from either side.
This Giants fan no longer feels awful about that trade.
That’s a low blow wiggy…
Now you know how us Yankee fans feel when the Mets have any players of interest to Yankees.
Ohhh the poor Yankees And their fans… said no one ever.
I think it was more they don’t have a backup at 1B or 3B on the roster. Culbertson can play 3B ur that’s it, and now with Flaherty DFA’d they needed the help. Remember. The Braves places a claim on Matt Adams as well, but the cardinals were 2 games behind them at the time and were awarded the claim. It is about strengthening the bench.
Bench is a need, but Culberson can play just about everywhere, Duvall can play 1B/3B. Markakis can play 1B, Swanson or Albies could probably slide over to 3B. Yes they need a bench bat, but it’s not like they have 1 backup infielder on the roster.
Hope Reynolds wont have to settle for a MiLB pact again this offseason.
I’m sure he will. Another year older. Production is largely the same. Though he kept it up without the coors field adv. Adam Lind has yet to see a ML roster. These guys become important around this time of the year but during the long grind of a season you can’t really carry a guy who is essentially a 1B only backup or a butcher at 3rd.
jbigz12….agreed. Reynolds first 12 games (40 PA) after call up .432/.475/.946 the next 19 games (61 PA) before his player of the week week .094/.180/.151….his player of the week week 7 games (19 PA) .625/.684/1.250 and since then…….(47 PA not counting today) .128/.255/.205. As you said he is not a full-time player and really hasn’t been for a while. He has short bursts of production and then long stretches of stinking.
I think it has nothing to do with Adam Duvall (who has actually had better ABs this week off the bench. i think he was pressing as he joined a new team in the pennant race. Hopefully he has settled down now. The Braves want at least 1 more legit threat as a pinch hitter off the bench. I don’t believe they much care what position that bat plays. With 4 starting caliber OFers (if you count Duvall) and the flexibility of players like Culberson and Camargo to play many positions, they can afford to have a pinch hitting specialist type on the roster now and into a potential playoff appearance. I would honestly think that they would prefer a LH bat, as they don’t really have that on the bench, but who knows. Ironically, Jose Bautista would be a good fit for that type of role…but they already went down that road once before!
Granderson could help the Braves
Who is Realgone2’s team? I’ve seen that response before.
Look for response above. ^^^^
Phillies finally showed signs of life today. Hopefully Odubel will get on a roll. He’s basically been useless for two months.
A shame… He’d be a good fit
That’s nice. Keep a 35 year old out of the playoffs. That’s a great locker room I bet. I’ve always viewed Max and the rest as just dumb people. The syrup is just trailer trash.
Typical Nationals mode of operation. They’re out of contention but refuse to allow a player who won’t be on their team in 60 days a chance at postseason play, that’s petty, childish and silly,
If I were Reynolds, I’d call out management and DFA’d like Shawn Kelley. Worked out well for Kelley as he’s playing in Oakland.
I agree with Fred.
Nats will let players go to teams in contention. Just not in the same division. You don’t have to be salty about it. When was the last time the Braves helped the Nats?
Don’t recall the Braves directly helping the Nats but that’s more to the fact that we never had anything the Nats wanted. Though I do remember when we traded Kelly Johnson to the Mets, Twice. And they are a bigger rival.
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Since when were veterans who are eligible for free agency in the offseason entitled to jumpship to a playoff contender if their team is no longer in it? I don’t remember people being upset about this in the past, yet I keep seeing people talk about how disrespectful it is if teams aren’t giving away their vets to playoff teams. So strange
Nats don’t care about winning this season or winning next season.
Don’t see why the braves would want him nor do I see this as a good defensive move lol.
Everyone complaining but I like it when teams don’t tank or create a non contentious atmosphere in the clubhouse.
Should have kept dusty baker and his tooth pick
I don’t get this move from the Nationals prospective. You are not going to make the playoff you are probably going to get a decent prospect for Mark Reynolds. Why not trade him to the Braves. A prospect might be more worth them a draft pick
What really makes you think that they would get a decent prospect for him? He didn’t even sign until April. If I were a Nat’s fan I would prefer that they keep guys that might help them win some games, instead of dumping all players for non-prospects
Mark Reynolds is getting a QO?? The Nats hate on MLBTR is hilarious
“ . . . you are probably going to get a decent prospect for Mark Reynolds. Why not trade him to the Braves.”
You don’t think Rizzo invested in a long distance call to Atlanta to see what was being offered before revoking waivers on Reynolds? Come on, that’s pretty standard. Just didn’t think what was offered justified making the deal. Perhaps Atlanta offered nothing at all, would you then blame the Nats for holding on to the player?
“A prospect might be worth them a draft pick” (sic)
Don’t see how the Nats would end up with a draft pick unless Atlanta traded them one. Throw me a clue?
Would have been nice to add another powe bat. Duvall needs to get going. Maybe the Braves could send him down for a week or so and let him work on his swing and do nothing but play before the minor league season is over. The guy has obvious power. Evident by his 15 HR’s and 61 RBI’s before the Braves picked him up.
They just need to find a way to get the kid going. It’s hard because the Braves aren’t going to sit Acuna or Inciarte in favor of him to play a few days straight to try and get him going.
I have a good feeling that his bat will make a few late season impacts to games eventually
Braves were looking to get Reynolds for free like the Cards got Adams for free. difference is, Adams was a salary dump. Reynolds doesnt cost hardly anything to keep.