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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players Nationals should acquire

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 29, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher David Robertson (30) reacts to defeating the Detroit Tigers in the tenth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher David Robertson (30) reacts to defeating the Detroit Tigers in the tenth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals have never been to the World Series, but one or two key trade deadline deals could help the club make it in 2017.

Nationals fans have hear it countless times since the team drafted Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper and constructed a winning roster around them: no D.C. major league team has won a postseason series since 1924, when the Washington Senators won their one and only World Series.

The Nationals have made it to the playoffs in three of the past five seasons, but lost in the National League Division Series all three times. Of course, Strasburg, Harper, Max Scherzer, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez are all clicking at the same time through the first quarter of the 2017 season. The star-studded Washington roster has propelled the club to a 26-17 record through Monday, and a 6.5-game lead in the NL East, which is the largest in the big leagues. Therefore, a fourth postseason trip is eminent.

Harper and Zimmerman have posted MVP-type numbers so far this season and Murphy isn’t far behind. Also, Rendon had a three-homer, 10-RBI game, and Trea Turner hit for the cycle in April, so it should be no shock that the Nationals have scored more runs (246) than any other major league team. Strasburg, Scherzer and Gonzalez have all put up great numbers, highlighted by Strasburg’s 2.83 FIP, Scherzer’s 0.989 WHIP and Gonzalez’s 2.86 ERA.

However, even the Nats have flaws. To put Washington in the best possible position to end its postseason win drought, and for the Expos/Nationals franchise to even break through to the World Series for the first time, we explore a handful of players the Nationals should acquire before the trade deadline.

Needs

Closer

It’s no secret. Washington’s need for a closer is the best-known team flaw among World Series contenders at this point in the season. The Nationals have struggled out of the bullpen all all year, and ranked last in the National League and 29th in the majors in bullpen ERA (5.40) through Sunday. In the ninth inning or later, Washington pitchers have allowed a MLB worst .305 batting average while posting a 5.27 ERA, which ranks No. 24 in the big leagues and third bottom in the NL.

Outfield depth

There’s a big gap between Washington’s top need and the No. 2 position on the list. But as teams prepare for a postseason push, it’s best to have as many options covered as possible, so it wouldn’t be a shock for the Nats to add an outfielder.

The club’s biggest offseason acquisition, Adam Eaton, is out for the year with a torn ACL, and his loss is the biggest reason Washington might want to add an outfielder. However, it’s also worth noting that left fielder Jayson Werth is 38 years old.

Werth is hitting .287/.387/.457 with six home runs in 38 games this season, putting him on pace for his best season since 2014 when he finished in the top 20 in the NL MVP race, but there aren’t many 38-year-olds that bounce back to prime form for a full season. Plus, he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season, opening a spot in the outfield for 2018 and beyond if the club adds someone to help replace Eaton.

Fifth starter

The Nationals have one of the strongest starting rotations in the National League, and Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez would be a formidable trio for any team to face during the postseason. However, to set themselves up for the best possible playoff situation, home field advantage, the Nats could use a little better pitching from their No. 5 starter. If the right trade partner materializes for a closer or outfielder, a back-end starter could be a valuable throw in.

Assets

Baseball Prospectus Organizational Talent Ranking: 20

MLB.com Top 100 Prospects: 2

FanGraphs Top 10 Prospects (FV)

  • Victor Robles, CF (60)
  • Juan Soto, OF (50)
  • Erick Fedde, RHP (50)
  • Luis Garcia, SS (45)
  • Carter Kieboom, 3B (45)
  • Koda Glover, RHP (45)
  • Andrew Stevenson, OF (45)
  • Sheldon Neuse, 3B (40)
  • Jose Luzardo, LHP (40)
  • Osvaldo Abreu, UT (40)

The offseason trade for Adam Eaton cost the Nationals some of the top prospects in baseball. Lucas Giolito ranks No. 8 on MLB.com’s current Top 100 list and Reynaldo Lopez is No. 39. However, Victor Robles sits fifth overall on the most recent list, making him one of the most valuable trade chips in baseball at the moment.

But, Washington is hesitant to part with Robles, who could be the center fielder of the future in D.C. That could make striking a huge deal difficult since the farm system as a whole is pretty shallow.

Glover is only player on FanGraphs’ top 10 list that has made it to the major leagues yet, and Fedde and Stevenson are the only other prospects that could conceivably make an impact at the major league level prior to 2019.

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