MLB Trade Rumors 2013: Washington Nationals Interested In Cubs’ Matt Garza

The Washington Nationals were one of the teams interested in Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday afternoon. They however, unlike the Dodgers and a few others (say, the San Francisco Giants) weren’t willing to go overboard in their offer.

With Nolasco now off of the table, it appears the Nationals have focused their attention on Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza, this according to the Washington Post:

"The Nationals have kicked the tires on Cubs right-hander Matt Garza, one person familiar with the situation said. Talks between the teams have not progressed to the point of the Nationals offering the Cubs a formal proposal.The Nationals have have shown interest in Garza in the past. Before the Rays traded him to the Cubs before the 2011 season, the Nationals expressed interest in dealing for the right-hander, a person familiar with the situation said. The interest, the person said, was not aggressive, but not insignificant."

The oddity here is Garza will probably be the most expensive pitcher on the market during the MLB trade deadline, at least in terms of prospects as Garza still has a year of arbitration left.

It’s unlikely that a deal gets done until the Cubs reduce their asking price, but it’s clear the Nationals are in the market for an arm.