The Nationals are 24-33, 9 1/2 games back of the NL East lead and six out of wild-card position. If that keeps up, they seem likely to sell leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. For now, though, that isn’t the Nationals’ intention. An American League executive told Jayson Stark of The Athletic that Washington’s “still talking about adding. They’ve been calling around, looking for upgrades in the bullpen. And teams with that attitude have a hard time flipping and saying it’s time to re-trench for next year.”
If the Nationals aren’t going to wave the white flag, the bullpen’s a logical place to seek upgrades. Their relief corps has been a horror show all season, ranking last in the majors in ERA (7.23), 29th in blown saves (11), 28th in FIP (5.26) and 26th in walks per nine innings (4.38). As you’d expect from those statistics, bright spots have been difficult to find in the group.
Of the seven Nationals who have logged double-digit relief appearances this season, only closer Sean Doolittle has put up respectable numbers, but even the oft-dominant left-hander had a couple blowups in the second half of May. Meanwhile, blowups have been all too common throughout the season for southpaw Matt Grace and hard-throwing righty Kyle Barraclough – one of the Nationals’ key offseason acquisitions. Fellow offseason pickup Trevor Rosenthal could scarcely record an out before the club banished him to the injured list April 26 because of a viral infection. Wander Suero, Tony Sipp and the injured Justin Miller have mostly been ineffective, while it’s too soon to pass judgment on a Tanner Rainey–Javy Guerra–Kyle McGowin trio that has thrown a combined 13 1/3 innings.
Unfortunately for the Nationals, with the deadline still two full months away, teams with valuable relief trade chips may want to keep them in hopes of sparking a late-July bidding war. Although, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was able to pry reliever Kelvin Herrera out of Kansas City almost a month and a half before last year’s deadline. The Herrera acquisition didn’t work out, though, continuing Rizzo’s spotty track record of bullpen trades. Even getting Doolittle and Ryan Madson from the Athletics in 2017 cost the Nats Blake Treinen and Jesus Luzardo, the former perhaps baseball’s best closer in 2018 and the latter now an elite pitching prospect, as well as a good third base prospect in Sheldon Neuse. The summer before that, reeling in Mark Melancon from the Pirates forced the Nationals to give up now-excellent Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vazquez.
Though the Nationals want to make yet another in-season trade(s) to repair their wonky bullpen, the luxury tax line is worth keeping in mind in their case. Ownership reportedly doesn’t want to exceed the $206MM threshold, which helps explain why Washington hasn’t just signed free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel to better its late-game situation. The team’s a bit under $203MM in luxury tax payroll, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource, and would have to shell out a 50 percent surtax for every dollar spent over the line.
The tax is likely weighing on the Nationals’ minds as they consider buying. However, there’s plenty of time for the club to change course and pivot toward selling if the on-field product doesn’t improve. Should Washington take that route, it could consider moving the premier impending free agent in the game (at least among position players), third baseman Anthony Rendon. Rizzo was in a similar position last year with Bryce Harper, but given that the Nationals were hovering around the .500 mark, he decided to retain the outfielder. The Nationals then missed the playoffs and failed to re-sign Harper, leading him to bolt for the division-rival Phillies in free agency after rejecting a qualifying offer. All the Nats got for his exit was a fourth-round pick. The departure of a qualified Rendon would return something better – a draft choice after Competitive Balance Round B – but only if they stay below the tax line.
Beyond Rendon, Stark points to Doolittle and right-handed ace Max Scherzer as potential trade chips. Stark hears from multiple executives that the Nationals are not interested in moving Scherzer, though. The 34-year-old Scherzer’s contract still has more than $100MM on it – including in deferrals – but he remains a dominant force who’d draw plenty of interest. Doolittle has just another year of control left (a $6.5MM club option), though trading him would likely damage the bullpen-needy Nationals’ chances of competing in 2020. More realistically, a Nats sale could revolve around Rendon with Michael A. Taylor, who’s under control for one more year, and potential free agents Matt Adams, Howie Kendrick, Brian Dozier and Gerardo Parra also looking like trade candidates.
Yep
I don’t follow the Crashionals but I found it informative. They basically have Rendon and Max to trade. I am a Yankees fan and I would trade Andujar for Max. There is you 3B/1B of the future. It gets them well under the tax for Rendon and next winters FA crop.
Funny trade suggestion. Also funny saying they only have Max and Rendon…
Adam Eaton can attract some people, but they would be stupid to trade anyone else. I don’t get how they are so bad right now. I mean I understand the bullpen is awful but they have some great young talent on that team.
Scherzer has been dominant for years, they would not trade him for just andujar who has had one year under his belt, and he’s already out for the year
Its not the 1 year. Andujar is going to be a force for years to come offensively. Whether or not the defensive side of his game ever comes around or if he’s delegated to DH duties in the next few years is the big question.
However, last season I’d have chalked Devers up as a DH with no chance of sticking in the field. But he worked his tail off this off-season and has become a pretty solid 3B and is proving me wrong. No reason Andujar can’t do the same once he’s healthy. Especially because, like Devers, a lot of his fielding errors have more to do with mistakes then talent.
But Andujar is going to have to prove it when he gets back. If he does, maybe next year or 2021 he could be part of a package discussion for a guy like Max Scherzer.
The Yankees couldn’t get back anything they liked when they tried to trade Andujar. Conversations with the Yankees would probably start with Loaisiga and Torres for Max.
I am in no way saying the Yankees could would or should offer that. I’m saying that’s where the conversation starts. Andujar doesn’t even get the Nationals to take a phone call and that’s not a knock on his talent. Hell of a ballplayer. Scherzer is just an elite, elite level talent for a long time.
Not to mention Andujar is injured at the moment. Not sure he’d even be on anyone’s radar until hes back and healthy.
Why would the Yankees trade away a piece of their middle infielder, weaken their lineup and the future for possibly one or two seasons of a 34 year old pitcher? It’d be robbing Peter to pay Paul. The idea of breaking it down is to give up most of the present to get a lot back for the future. The team trading for the established player isn’t in it to give away assets that would diminish their chances of winning. 22 year old starting all star middle infielders isn’t equivalent to a 34 year old pitcher. I don’t care if it’s Max Scherzer, Bumgarner, or Cy Young. Pitchers are the shakiest stocks to invest in.
Read my middle paragraph. Totally agree.
I was just putting together a “what it would take to start the convo”. Andujar doesn’t get it done.
When you win 100 games 1 season and are on this kind of pace the next year, I think its safe to say you can avoid selling off top youngsters for veterans. If I’m the Yankees, I’m pretty content with what I’ve got. Maybe a Keuchel signing, but I wouldn’t even engage in conversations for anything that changes the landscape drastically. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken! 🙂
Yeah. I also don’t think history is on the Yankees side when it comes to trading for starting pitching for the playoff run. You can go as far back as Kevin Brown and Javy Vazquez to Sonny Gray. Yankees fans think the space time continuum works differently when you put on the pinstripes. People want to use Verlander as the best case scenario for these type of trades, but that’s more of an outlier than Yankees fans want to believe.
Those comps don’t come close to Max.
You’re not getting Max for Andujar period. Andujar has 1 year of relevance.
That had to be the worst trade proposal ever for the Gnats! The phone is hung up immediately on their end. Seriously though that is ridiculous!
I would also do Andujar for MB but extend him 2/$35M
You’re so overvaluing Andujar.
Way overvalued. And injured.
There’s a reason even guys like J.D. Martinez struggle to find the right deals these days. Right now, Andujar is many years younger and already in the same conversation (can he play the field?).
Teams really like having some versatility at the DH position these days unless you have a David Ortiz. Andujar doesn’t fit for half the league (NL teams have no DH). Half of the remaining teams like a rotating DH. His market is about 5-6 teams when he’s healthy until he proves he can be a viable option at 3B. Last season he and Devers combined to put on the worst performances at 3B I’ve seen in my life. The hot corner was the not corner.
Devers has improved and I’m sure Andujar can as well if he applies himself. But not today. His market value is about 1/3 to 1/4 of where some Yankees fans seem to want to put him.
Do you have any Healthy commodities to trade? Perhaps one that doesn’t need to prove he can play a position at a passable level? It might get you a better return.
Before the Nats start dumping players, get a proven Manager. This is seriously under-performing. The lineup isn’t fluid, the starting rotation isn’t offsetting the different styles, the pen isn’t used in situations…
Agreed, this team has too much talent to be in that position. They have three outstanding starters in their rotation and a pretty decent closer. Maybe take a few prospects to sure up the bullpen and dump Martinez.
Lots of junk these days pretty much since the offseason
I think if you are the Yankees and are trading Andujar you are looking to get Rendon back. Maybe Rendon for Andujar, Wade, and chad green/tommy kahnle.
Lol at this proposal. Scrap heap for one of the best players in the game.
I’m a Yankees fans and these guys have gone off the rails. Why in the world would the Nats want Andujar? Then this guy suggests trash to bring back Max, and on top of that Rendon.
If the mats are going into a restart not so much as a rebuild, then go sell of Max & Rendon get some pieces that are major league ready and compete in 2020.
Trade Max to a team looking for an Ace, with pitching to spare, they are in the same boat as the Mets & Cleveland. They have teams that are younger & with better farm systems in their division and no way to truly get better.
Twins for the Indians
Braves/Phillies for the Nats & Mets.
Whoever picks up Miller or Grace is going to hav Erbe best reliever in the league next year.
Come home Max!!!!
Scherzer to the Dodgers to put them over the hump.
Left off later. What hump? You must be a camel man.
Left off later. What hump? You must be a camel man.
Nats need a true clean up hitter now and 3 relievers – jettison all the junk in that bullpen now!
Max S is good for 2-3 years and is the best bet to get that new needed talent NOW. Yankees have all that the Nats need – in their 40 man roster and in minors. Make the f’in trade Rizzo – or your gone too!