2:32pm: This deal is now official. Southpaw Jonny Venters goes on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot.
12:55pm:Â The Nationals have struck a deal to acquire righty Daniel Hudson, according to Scott Mitchell of TSN (Twitter link). Minor-league righty Kyle Johnston is going to Toronto in return, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter).
Hudson, 32, emerged as a trade candidate after throwing 48 innings of 3.00 ERA ball for the Blue Jays this year. That’s a nice showing considering that Toronto added him late in camp on a minor-league deal with a $1.5MM base salary and $1.5MM in incentives.
Unfortunately, it’s questionable whether Hudson can sustain that effort down the stretch. He’s averaging a strikeout per inning, but has also handed out 4.3 walks per nine and has benefited from a .258 batting average on balls in play and 80.7% strand rate. While he’s still pumping 96, Hudson is also sitting at a 9.9% swinging-strike rate after topping twelve percent in each of the three prior seasons.
No doubt the Nats don’t expect Hudson to dominate so much as to provide serviceable innings. The club has not had enough of those to this point of the season, creating a need for multiple deadline additions. In all likelihood, Hudson is the first of one or more new relief arms who’ll come to DC in the next two hours.
The 23-year-old Johnston is a former sixth-round pick who’s said to hold some promise as a future reliever. He’s currently working at the High-A level, where he owns a 4.03 ERA in 105 innings with 8.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
First move by the Nationals.
Nats making moves
YES! He is not a Brave!
Hopefully this will Force the Braves to make a counter move
Possibly Greene?
I’m guessing this means the Nats are out on Greene. And since it was reportedly down to the Nats and Braves, then… well, connect the dots.
I would disagree, just because it seems WSH needs more than one bullpen piece to fix the mess they have. If they are really going for it, they need more than Daniel Hudson.
Yeah but if the Tigers wanted Kieboom could u imagine what the price the Braves would be expected to pay
Bet it’s gonna be a bigger haul than just Greene
But will get done
Hope it’s not Castellanos involved too
If the tigers are asking for prospects like carter Kieboom back for Greene I would hope anyone can connect the dots. Shane Greene will be wearing a Detroit Tigers jersey tomorrow unless Avila gets a reality check in the next 9 hours.
Yankees also trying to get greene
Go get em rizzo.
If the nats can make a move I think the twins can
Good pro! Loved his attitude. Hope he does well in Washington
Try to get Greene, Tigers get greedy af asking for Kieboom, Nats like f this and pick up Hudson from the dealing Jays.
Hindsight evaluations of previous deadlines suggest that the teams going cheap don’t get the payoff in the end. But maybe this time will be different.
Greene is closer to Daniel Hudson than “going cheap.” This isn’t picking Daniel Hudson over Aroldis Chapman.
For your sake, I hope so. I’m only pointing out that looking back over previous deadlines the teams that settle for “bargain deals” over trying to acquire the major names end up fizzling out… I wonder how many of those teams would reconsider their approach if given a second chance?
My for my sake, nothing I don’t care for the Nationals at all. but giving up an elite prospect for a non elite reliever is stupid. I wouldn’t give up Kieboom for a healthy Giles let alone Shane Greene
You’d be surprised how many “elite’ prospects become flashes in the pan over time… and those very same prospects could have been dealt off for proven commodities. Sure, if you’re certain Kieboom is the real deal giving him up for a reliever is dumb. But there is a long line of Mike Olt’s out there that people were convinced up and down were also the next big thing.
I can’t tell if this a good or a bad sign for Twins fans… Plz plz plz don’t stand pat Falvey, you’ll regret it for the rest of you’re career.
With two hours to go, there are a number of teams who haven’t made moves……again, not enough teams out of it……..be prepared to overpay
One could also look at it like .. two hours left and a number of teams may have decided not to make moves. The asking price might drop substantially and quickly because the demand is not materializing. Maybe these teams have decided to stick with what they have since no one else is really making a move.
Regardless, this is what I would expect a team to give up for a rental reliever. This is a far more competent deal than the Braves trading Allard, even if that was done due to 40-man complications.
Jays are wise to continue flipping these guys, such a shame they got hosed on the Stroman deal.
Toronto is the only team trading their pieces.
One seller selling
Yet prices are cheap
Wow Kyle Johnston, 23 years old in A ball with an ERA over 4 and less than a k per inning. I didn’t expect a big return but if your looking for bullpen help who would make a trade like that. Very cheap acquisition cost and salary.
Every Jays trade is a no brainer for the other team.
Not a bad pickup for the Blue Jays. MLB.com has Johnston as the Nats’ 27th best prospect. He’ll probably end up a reliever, but that’s okay.
Ya I like this deal. Best case scenario we get five years of what Hudson provided for a rental. Not bad.
23-year old Single-A pitcher with mediocre numbers at-best. Jays fans shouldn’t expect very much.
Dude could regress and have a 4.5 era and still be the Nats 3rd best reliever
Sad this is the only move so far for the Jays today
Really, what do you expect for player for two months . Bullpen player long term, no question with only two effective pitches. And teams need minor league bullpen depth with options to fill gaps during a season.
Bet Braves get Giles & he blows his elbow in September
AA is killing me slowly
He already blew his elbow. Out with a cortisone shot for his elbow inflammation, so I wouldn’t be hoping AA gets him now.
You can’t project a 23 year old in A ball with a ERA over 4 to be a mlb player (rotation or MLB) the jays also have plenty of depth but need high quality. With that being said your not getting anything too high of quality for Hudson. The jays have now made 4 trades it would be nice if they could package guys in order to receive higher quality and less quantity. They have made moves like this last year too and it is the right decision to trade these guys but a player or two who will actually make an impact would be nice.
Good move for the nationals.
As for the Jays, I have seen Johnston pitch and he is organizational depth. If he had a shot at the big leagues it will be depth call up on a poor team. 4A player.
Considering Allard was traded for Chris Martin I’d say this deal pales in-comparison.
Another mediocre return for Toronto, but it’s not like Hudson is Mariano Rivera! Certainly wish him luck as he was real solid all year for Toronto.
Just an opening for a AAA pitcher. Unless the Jays go for more Wilmer Fonts, Oliver Drakes and Nick Kinghams.