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5 trades Washington Nationals must make to get past Chicago Cubs

By Dan Schmelzer

Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carlos Gonzalez
Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies

Let’s start this one out with a bang. Carlos Gonzalez has been a subject of trade rumors for a long time now. Fresh off of a 40 home run season and being completely healthy, this could finally be the year where the Colorado Rockies pull the trigger on trading Gonzalez.

He is a powerful hitter who would bring immediate elite-level protection for Harper. With Gonzalez waiting to attack right behind him, teams could not simply pitch around Harper like the Cubs did over the weekend. Gonzalez is a dangerous hitter who would make them pay on a consistent basis.

Gonzalez is also a speedy player who plays great defense in the outfield. While he has primarily been a left fielder in recent years, Gonzalez has played center field in the past, and should be able to pick it up for the Nationals. Replacing Ben Revere in center field and Jayson Werth in left field on some days, Gonzalez would bring some much-needed explosiveness and depth to the Nationals’ lineup.

Obviously, acquiring a talent like Gonzalez is never going to be cheap. The Nationals would have to pay big for the star outfielder, but small moves are not going to be the ones that help them catch up to the Cubs.

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