The Nationals have received trade interest in veterans Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey and Lane Thomas but haven’t considered dealing any veteran pieces just yet, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Washington, even with a sub-.500 record (35-36), is tied with the Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League at the moment and has not yet made a determination on how to approach this year’s trade deadline, Morosi adds.
It’s sensible for teams to inquire with the Nats, who entered the season as a playoff long-shot after spending the past two years in a rebuilding pattern. The Nats have outplayed expectations thanks to myriad factors (e.g. breakouts from MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin and Trevor Williams; a stronger-than-expected debut for lefty Mitchell Parker; a big step forward by CJ Abrams; a rebound by Jesse Winker). Those positive developments, plus widespread mediocrity in the National League, have thrust the Nationals into postseason conversations in mid-June. Williams’ recent flexor strain is a big damper on the team’s solid showing this year, but it’s only natural that GM Mike Rizzo and his staff aren’t yet ready to concede that they’ll be deadline sellers.
The next six weeks will be pivotal for the Nats. Holding the status quo or even playing winning ball between now and July 30 could push the Nationals to function as buyers. They may not be keen on dealing prospects for short-term rentals in a season like this, but targeting some names with multiple years of club control remaining feels plausible. On the other side of the coin, if the Nats fall a few games back in the standings and/or incur further injury problems of note, then listening on short-term veterans would be far likelier.
All three of the names listed by Morosi are controlled only through the 2025 season. Finnegan and Harvey would both draw widespread interest among contenders, given the perennial demand for bullpen help among playoff hopefuls. Harvey, in particular, has been dominant with a 28.3% strikeout rate and 5.5% walk rate en route to a 2.75 ERA. Finnegan leads the team with 20 saves and a terrific 1.78 ERA, though he’s benefited hugely from a microscopic .157 BABIP and a sky-high 94.7% strand rate — neither of which feels sustainable long-term.
Thomas drew interest at last summer’s trade deadline, but he’s likely someone the Nats value more than many of the teams seeking to acquire him. Washington reportedly priced him like an everyday player on last summer’s trade market — which is also how they use him — but Thomas carries enormous platoon splits and could be seen by other clubs as a player best deployed in a timeshare. He’s batting .327/.390/.588 against lefties this season (166 wRC+) but has an awful .196/.256/.330 output against righties (65 wRC+). His career splits aren’t quite that dramatic but are quite stark: .305/.364/.524 versus left-handers (141 wRC+) compared to .223/.290/.392 versus right-handers (86 wRC+).
The next few weeks will be pivotal for Rizzo and his lieutenants as they chart a course for this year’s deadline planning. If the Nats fall several games out of the race, all three of the names listed by Morosi could feasibly hit the market, and they likely wouldn’t be alone. Third baseman Nick Senzel and reliever Derek Law are also only controlled through 2025 as well. Veterans Dylan Floro and Eddie Rosario are free agents at the end of the current season, as are the aforementioned Williams and Winker.
Speaking of Winker, he had an injury scare over the weekend when he felt knee pain after taking a big turn at first base, slamming on the brakes and (unsuccessfully) diving back to the bag. He exited the game two innings later. Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports that Winker underwent an MRI that thankfully came back clean. He’s listed as day-to-day for now.
Winker, 30, isn’t hitting for much power this season but is drawing walks at his typically lofty rate (13.4%) and has made significantly better contact than he did over the past two seasons in a pair of down years with the Mariners and Brewers. He’s batting .265/.378/.390 with six homers and ten doubles through 268 plate appearances. Like Thomas, he’s better utilized in a platoon setting but has been an everyday player in Washington. Winker, to his credit, has a roughly league-average .239/.345/.338 slash in 84 plate appearances against fellow lefties, but he’s a career .210/.325/.338 hitter (89 wRC+) in left-on-left situations, compared to .279/.383/.467 (130 wRC+) against righties.
Eventual trades of Winker, Rosario and/or Thomas could open the door for any number of Nationals farmhands at the big league level. One near-MLB-ready option, Robert Hassell III, doesn’t seem as though he’ll be an option anytime soon, however. The Nats placed Hassell on the minor league injured list last week, and TalkNats.com reports that he’s dealing with another wrist injury and that the team plans to proceed cautiously. Hassell has had multiple wrist injuries in the past, including a broken hamate bone that necessitated surgery.
One of the most notable prospects acquired in the Nationals’ blockbuster trade of Juan Soto to the Padres, Hassell opened the season with a .278/.369/.369 slash in 215 plate appearances at the Double-A level. Those numbers don’t jump out, but they’re about 14% better than average in his currently pitcher-friendly environment, by measure of wRC+. They’re also a sizable step forward from the .225/.316/.324 batting line recorded by Hassell at the same minor league level last year (476 plate appearances).
Both Hassell and uber-prospect James Wood are on the minor league injured list at the moment — the latter due to a hamstring strain. Wood, in particular, could be an option to make his big league debut later this summer, with Andrew Golden of The Washington Post relaying on X today that Wood could return to game action this week. But Hassell could force his way into that conversation as well if he’s cleared to return sooner than later and continues to show improvement over last season. His prospect stock has taken a notable hit since the time of that swap, but he’s maintained strong plate discipline (11.6% walk rate) and cut his strikeout rate from last year’s alarming 31.9% to a far more palatable 21.4% in 2024.
Dylan Crews will also be in the mix, as he’s being promoted to Triple-A, per @PROducerIOTB on X. That’s come on the heels of Crews hitting .274/.343/.446 in Double-A this year while stealing 15 bases.
This might be a snoozer of a trade market while one team overpays. There are like 10 teams vying for a NL playoff spot. That is more than half the league for 6 spots. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a blockbuster trade we haven’t seen in years this year. Someone trying to get the edge over a rival and the other looking to finish putting pieces together for a long term run. It’s in the air and I feel it
“It’s in the air and I feel it”
More likely it’s the malodorous waft off the Monongahela….
I think many teams will end up sellers come late July. The Pirates, for example, I think will sell. The Nationals I think will sell. Some teams are going to be in denial but not all of them.
My team is the Cardinals and they don’t want to sell. But teams like the Nationals and Pirates do want to sell, right or wrong. And if it’s close that could be the determining factor.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Cardinals fan. By selling, let me guess, Skenes, Jones, and Keller would be selling pieces? You Cardinals fans never seize to amaze me with your opinions. Pirates are playing some good baseball and only sit .5 game behind Cardinals for second place. So in other words, it’s not over until the fat lady sings
Skenes and Jones are obviously the pieces you build around. They aren’t ready to pitch deep into October at this point. The Pirates are getting close but they aren’t ready to contend.
I don’t think there is a single team that could pitch deep in October in the NL Central. If the Pirates sell, it will be minor pieces like Rowdy Tellez, Falter, Perez, Marco Gonzalez (if he returns), and Grandal on expiring contracts. Anyone else that is locked up for several years, isn’t going to be moved unless it’s a kings ransom.
The Cardinals rotation can pitch plenty of innings. They might not be good innings but they are prepared to pitch a lot of them.
I don’t think that either Crews or Hassell are particularly close. A call-up in 2025 would be a success, imo.
Wood, OTOH, looks more than ready, injury aside.
Crews has popped a 131 WRC+ since April in a tough AA hitting environment.. He’s likely going to be up in MLB after he preserves 2025 rookie status in mid August
Crews has Andrew McCutchen elements to his approach. Best of luck in AAA, DC.
I think the Nationals are smart for not declaring early that they are going to be sellers but realistically they are still a year away at least. There is something to be said for building positive momentum towards contention like they are doing but still they could use more young talent, specifically pitching.
The Nats are ranked 12th in team ERA, and 24th in team OPS. It’s bats that they need, preferably ones that can slug.
They have lots of position player prospects. Many of the pitchers who are performing are soon to be free agents. Pitching is what they need long term
The Nats would be wise to take advantage of the seller’s market this deadline and acquire some near big league ready pieces. They could be a legit contender next year once their top prospects are up. Plus there’s a strong free agent class for SP coming up if they choose to start spending again
Agreed if they bought at the deadline then at most they would be a 3rd wild card and probably get killed by the dodgers or Phillies
I think they are basically a year ahead of schedule at the moment. Next year will be the year they are a 500 team and then 2026 they can legitimately contend.
2025-26 should be when they finally open the floodgates of spending and get back to being a high spender
Cubs should also get back at the top soon
The Nats might wait until then to spend aggressively but jumping into the upcoming free agent class would be smart too. I believe they only have around $100MM on the books for next year and there’s several front of the rotation arms available. Signing Max Fried away from the Braves could be a move of particular interest for them
Yeah I agree Fried makes sense in many ways. Always good to take a player from a division rival he’s young and they need high end pitching.
There is also something to be said about conditioning the players to winning. Depending on where they are, I’d have no problem with my RS picking up pieces at the deadline. It tells the kids that you have confidence in them, and that they are expected to win.
Situations are different for different teams. The Red Sox probably should sell but at least they can afford to hold or even be buyers. But I still think they should sell as of today.
After looking at the stats tonight Red Sox are 3 games over 500 yeah maybe they should be buyers. ONeill 2 homers yeah buddy.
What about an extension for Gore? Seems like the time is right for both sides to iron out a fair deal.
If I’m the Nationals I don’t trade Lane Thomas and I ask for alot for RP Finnegan if I trade him otherwise keep him.
Winker has value but he is so inconsistent/variable etc. I doubt they would get much for him, just keep him.
ATL is definitely going to get themselves an OF and SP. without giving up their best prospects
Unless they get bowled over by a deal, or are somehow 10 games over .500(highly unlikely), perhaps, the best thing is neither buy or sell and just stand pat. Although, historically Mike Rizzo does something at the deadline.
Nice to see some life out of Winkler! Felt sorry for him last year!
Definitely would not get anything for Rosario, if anything they should release him to give one of Travis Blankenhorn or Harold Ramirez a shot to do less terribly than a .586 ops (64 WRC+)
The Nats are not ready to contend though they had some well-played games. There was a time when Abrams, Winker and Garcia Jr. hit so well, that they could compete against any serious contenders, and were just a few reinforcements away from being a winning team. But they regress very fast so I don’t have much confidence in them winning this year. It would be wise to sell the rentals, buy some affordable mid-term options, and call up some second-tier farmhands if they are short handed.