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Nationals offer of Giolito for Miller nixed by Yankees

By Ted Fleming

Jun 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (44) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (44) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington offered an even-up swap of baseball’s No. 4 prospect for the New York lefty, but it appears even that was not enough, or have Yankees moved from sellers to buyers?

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It appears that the Yankees are not very interested in acquiring baseball’s top pitching prospect, Lucas Giolito. That is what the Nationals apparently offered for Andrew Miller in an even-up swap, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

Giolito, who is ranked No. 4 in the MLB Pipeline and No. 5 by Baseball America, was the Nationals first round pick in the 2012 draft and is on the cusp of making his mark on the big leagues. However, the Yankees may be in the process of switching from sellers to buyers as the trade deadline approaches with their rumored interest in the White Sox lefty Chris Sale. Right now Miller is their closer after the trade of Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs.

At 22, Giolito is exactly what New York is said to be interested in, a young arm that would make an immediate and long term impact on their rotation. The right-hander is 25-13 through five minor league seasons with a 2.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, but his biggest asset is striking out people as he has racked up 364 in 338.1 innings. He has also given up just 15 homers in 69 games, 67 starts.

Miller has been on the Nationals radar for quite some time; however they were all-in for Chapman before missing out on the fierballer. He is a proven closer who racked up 36 saves a year ago and nine this season that wrapped around Chapman’s suspension and post-trade. The 31-year old southpaw has a team friendly contract that runs through 2018 averaging just $9 million per.

The interest in Miller is justified because Nationals’ brass is concerned about current closer Jonathan Papelbon and how effective he will be down the stretch considering his recent late game meltdowns. The team wants to add pitching period, but a proven closer, especially one from the left side, remains a priority.

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