Which closer should the Washington Nationals trade for?

The Washington Nationals are in the market to trade for a closer, but is there one they should favor over the others?

With the best record in baseball right now (19-9), the Washington Nationals have few flaws. But their closer situation has been in flux all season, with Enny Romero picking up a spot save on Thursday. A committee situation is not ideal, even with a bit of a shift in how bullpen roles are defined, and the Nationals were rumored to be in the mix for a closer throughout last offseason.

The Kansas City Royals may move into sell-mode quickly, with multiple key players headed for free agency after the season and a 9-18 record right now. Closer Kelvin Herrera has not been used much thus far, with 10 appearances (10 innings) and three saves, and his strikeout rate has dropped in that small sample (6.3 K/9).

But Herrera proved to be plenty capable of closing games last year, with 12 saves, and his career peripherals back that up (9.0 K.9; 2.7 BB/9). So with bullpen arms in demand as the trade deadline gets near, Herrera is sure to garner interest.

In a video on Fox Sports.com, Ken Rosenthal reported the Nationals have interest in Herrera. The Kansas City closer can be added to a previously rumored list that includes David Robertson and Alex Colome, but should Washington target one guy over any other to stabilize their bullpen?

Let’s start with Robertson, the White Sox closer who has been tied to the Nationals via trade rumors since the offseason. He has five saves in six opportunities this year, with a 2.79 ERA and a 15:4 K/BB ratio over 9.2 innings. His contract ($12 million this year and $13 million in 2018) could be a roadblock to a deal, as well as an asking price driven by what the Yankees got for Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller in separate deals last year. But there have been enough rumors to suggest the Nationals want Robertson.

Colome finished tied for fourth in the American League in saves in 2016, with 37, and he has followed that up solidly early this season (eight saves, 2.51 ERA). Stepping up to pitch on a better team could be a challenge, but Colome can be more than a short-term solution with all three of his arbitration years ahead of him.

Herrera has one more year of team control after this one, before he hits free agency. So the Royals may not necessarily be looking to move him. But the other angle is their window to win a as currently constructed is closing, if it’s not already closed. As Nick Swisher hinted on FS1’s MLB Whiparound Thursday night, Herrera is well-rested right now as Kansas City struggles to win games.

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If the Nationals do swing a trade for a closer, they are likely to have to give up recognizable assets in the form of major league players or top prospects. But if I’m general manager Mike Rizzo, I would lean toward Herrera over Robertson, Colome or anyone else they may be showing interest in at this point.