As the Nationals continue to explore their offseason trade options, the team is “definitely open” to including former top prospect Carter Kieboom in negotiations, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli reports (Twitter links). Right-handed pitching prospects Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge, however, are not available.
Washington went into the 2020 season hoping Kieboom could step in as the new everyday third baseman, after Anthony Rendon left for the Angels in free agency. While nobody expected Kieboom to match Rendon’s All-Star level of production, the Nats surely hoped for more than the .202/.344/.212 slash line Kieboom delivered over 122 plate appearances. The lack of hitting led the Nationals to demote Kieboom to their alternate training site for just shy of two weeks, and his season was also shortened by a wrist injury in the final week of play.
Aside from a respectable OBP, there wasn’t much to like about Kieboom’s first extended taste of Major League action, as he didn’t make much hard contact and next to no power — Kieboom had the lowest slugging percentage of any player in baseball with at least 120 PA. However, Kieboom showed lots of pop in the minors, hitting .287/.378/.469 with 45 homers in 1462 PA in the Washington farm system after being drafted 28th overall in 2016.
Considering this prospect pedigree, Kieboom’s age (23) and the fact that the 2020 season was about the most difficult of possible circumstances for a younger player to acclimate himself to the big leagues, it is certainly very possible that Kieboom can break out in the near future. As such, Ghiroli notes that the Nationals surely aren’t going to “give him away” in any trade, if they were to deal him whatsoever. It’s probably safe to assume most teams also still see Kieboom as a valuable trade chip, so D.C. would only deal Kieboom as the centerpiece of a trade for an established MLB player — perhaps even at third base, to solidify that position.
Cavalli and Rutledge are widely seen as the top two prospects in a Washington farm system that is heavy on pitching, particularly right-handers. The sheer amount of depth makes it possible that the Nationals might be willing to discuss one of those less highly-regarded prospects (say, in the 5-10 range of their top ten list) but it also makes sense that they’re not budging on moving Cavalli or Rutledge, both first-round picks in the last two drafts.
Heard they renaming the “Mendoza Line” to the Kabooom
Oh my! How Original!
[sarcasm Alert]
Eugenio Suarez for Kieboom and Luis Garcia
“I’ll give you this former top prospect who seems to be a flop for your established MLB player”.(chuckling he covers the phone and gathers himself), knowing as silly as it sounds it works…over and over again
You’re ignoring cost and age. Yes, Suarez for Kieboom and a low level prospect would seem to be a reasonable trade.
Nah, I get it….reasonable salary, big power, a solid glove and several years of control for a prospect or two feels like a mistake.
Where’s the Kieboom? There’s supposed to be an earth-shattering Kieboom!
+1 Martian hijinx
Awesome
You beat me to it. I’ve used that in previous Kieboom threads but it’s plenty good enough IMO for anyone to use it again.
Jed Hoyer on line 1
Suarez for Kieboom, Tim Cate, and Cash
I think they would regret this. It’s way to early to give up on this kid.
Definitely. He’s had less than 200 plate appearaces in the majors. At the beginning of 2019 he was seen as a futire star. He needs another chance before he’s written off.
Willson Contreras for Kieboom and Cole Henry
Keiboom was rushed.Give him some time before we think he’s AAAA material. Bergman was in AA at Keiboom’s age.
Kieboom was drafted in 2016. he’s 23. How was he rushed?
19 out of high school.
Sounds like they know something about their prospect that you don’t. Now that they have exposed him its too late. You have to let other teams think he is a prospect and pretend like you don’t want to trade him and then at the last minute you trade Jesus Montero to the Mariners.
Basing any decision simply on 2020 numbers is stupid
I’m guessing this isn’t based on numbers…work ethic, attitude??? They know something you don’t know about their prospect.
Or not.
That’s the part that scares me. Kind of like when the Reds were more than happy to trade Taylor Trammell…who was then traded a second time in less than a year and went on to post a .689 OPS year at AA
This guy is in same boat as adell, high pedigree and moved up too soon and hurt their value.
They should trade him I just done see “it” in his swing I think if they can land a big league bet for him do it play Castor or Garcia at third get a big bat at first or right and go at it
Waiter comes to the table….”May I suggest the fresh Kieboom? It wasn’t very good yesterday, but the chef has placed a high value on its future, and, a quite appropriately, the price reflects that.”
Suarez is better than Kieboom will ever be.
There’s your next JD Martinez, Mr Avila. Please give us something this off-season.
Kieboom for Tony Gonsolin. Nats need a 4-5 starter desperately. Dodgers get a young RH bat.
Nats have pitching prospects lined up like flights at Dulles. They could use a patch for this year, a veteran who can eat innings in the 5-hole. But not only is Gonsolin not that, but they don’t have to trade Kieboom for it.
Gonsolin has actually been a solid major league player unlike Kieboom. Cheap controllable pitching is expensive.
Who needs a 26 year old who’s already posted a 2.31 era (matching 2.29 FIP) over a full year as a starter, 1.3 BB/9, a career era of 2.60 and has 2 years of playoff experience. While not a FA till 2027
Ewwww
I’d rather have a 35 year old because he’s a vet!
I’m not sure Kieboom will work out, but selling low seems like a bad idea.
How ya doin’ Papa?
I still think Kieboom was rushed when came up for the first time When Turner went down. His 2019 stats point to a need for more seasoning. Last season was just such weird environment that he never was able to get his head in the game until he came back from the secondary site.
We still don’t know what the ceiling is for Kieboom. I really think this is a what if trade scenario for Rizzo. Collecting date that will allow him to make a deal to improve the team. I really think Mason Denaburg, Cole Henry & even Will Crow.
Hey D. Happy Holidays!!
Interesting. I wonder what Nationals fans think about this.
I would imagine last seasons dismal showing is only going to decrease his value a little in the minds of other GM’s so I think CK and company could still fetch a very productive player. With the hole at 3B, you might be tempted to talk to the Reds about Suarez.
He has a hot bath with a bad glove. Just like Kieboom, I can’t imagine GM’s putting a whole lot of value in the previous shortened season except that his glove wasn’t poor in just 2020. It was bad in 2019 as well.
2019 -4 DRS / -0.2 UZR
2020 -4 DRS / -1.3 UZR
That’s starting to show some unfortunate consistent reason to be concerned about his ability at 3B though I wouldn’t describe him as a butcher either. I guess it really depends on how much you value defense.
bath=bat. Man, I am going to get some guff on that one. =D
The line is better with the word bath. You stumbled onto something brilliantly funny.
Your really going to judge a SS prospects defense on his play at third base learning the position from scratch?
His Defense at short when he came up to see where he was at was not good but his overall defense trended upward all season. The Nats have not expressed an abundance of concern on the glove side. The problem was he appeared to be overmatched at the plate early in the year, especially chasing out of the zone . He did a better job of getting on base when recalled but still needs to make good contact more often Remember his age too when evaluating performance
Maybe the Braves trade a floundering young pitcher for Kieboom and team him with Riley and Camargo to solidify their unquestioned league lead in young, once promising, now struggling third-basemen?
Who has more trade value Kieboom or Lux? Bigger disappointment? Still relatively small sample sizes. The conundrum is keeping these guys hoping for better production or selling lower before trade value evaporates. I’d think most GMs hate selling low so they’ll keep them unless presented with a too hood to be true trade scenario.
Lux has higher trade value. He was a higher rated prospect, and even though he hasn’t really done much in the majors, he has had less of an oppurtunity than Kieboom.
Lux was believed to have Covid and his season never really got started. Kieboom just sucked
and lux was the better prospect to begin with
Lux easily and by far
So much for ‘can’t miss’ prospects. He’s looking like another perfect example why it’s ok to trade highly rated minor leaguers for PROVEN mlb performers.
Krissy Bryant for Kieboom
Kieboom’s bat might go Boom in Coors.
Nats have been interested in Arenado…
MrMackey [mmmkay]
Not since Arenado signed his current contract. The Nats need the payroll flexibility to offer their own player Free Agent level contracts. Arenado is also a long term salary weight that would impact payroll for a long time .to come
Rizzo and beane have extensive trade history. Matt Chapman free agent after 2023, the team has no money, boras the agent so Chapman is likely gone at some point. Chapman for keiboom and Robles? Maybe expand the deal to get piscotty as a short term Robles fill in. Then maybe A’s have the salary room to pursue semien signing or kolton Wong. And Sheldon neuse can be ready to take over at 3rd base
If you are giving up Kieboom for Matt Chapman I don’t see giving up Robles [and creating a second hole in the OF] in the same trade.
You can’t ust through the players who had a bad year last year on the trading block and expect Filet Mignon in return. A more ikely scenario would be Carter and on of the 5-10 prospects (if you had to fill it out at all.
mlb.com/prospects/nationals/
It would cost so much more for Matt Chapman. So much more.
Rockies should offer Arenado for Kieboom and the Nats #3 pitching prospect.
I’m sorry, but the guy has played 44 games, with most of them coming during a train wreck of a season. This guy should definitely not be moved. Played very well in the minors, and was their top prospect for a reason.
@Rhyhe1990
yea but the MLB team needs production this season & at positions that are traditionally high offensive output. [1B, 3B corner OF}
My preference is to hold Kieboom and give him a (more) normal season to establish himself. Depending on the signings, he does not have to be the starter and can get a Utility path forward that allows for more playing time and better grounding in multiple positions. But I think whatever his role he will be a vastly improved player.
As far as trades go, my suspicion is that Rizzo is setting market value and seeing if Kieboom can give him a more controllable needed piece. if the market is not there you keep the asset and do everything you can to develop him.
Reading the comments in here gives me a headache. It’s the latest installment of “We must assess NOW whether Unproven Player X is a bust or a star”, sponsored by MLBTR commenters.
The best approach is a measured approach: give the kid 400 AB’s before making any bold declarations about his worth, not after 143 AB’s after 2 seasons. 3/4 of the Nats roster SUCKED in 2020. Not just Kieboom.
Anyone who watched him knows he is pressing at the plate, he needs to relax and let the game come to him. Whatever you think of Kieboom, Rizzo is not going to allow a trade partner to significantly devalue him.
Gallo ??