MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players Nationals should acquire

4. Kelvin Herrera, CP/Lorenzo Cain, CF, Royals

McCutchen represents one of the bigger names the Nationals might consider outside the closer role, but the team’s most obvious area of concern is pitching in the ninth inning. Therefore, we’ll largely concentrate there from this point on. However, a trade partner that could solve multiple needs is Kansas City.

Kelvin Herrera is a two-time All-Star setup man for the Royals, and has yet to become a complete shutdown closer for the club. So far this season, Herrera has a 4.26 ERA and 5.09 FIP in 19 innings spread across 19 appearances. He has allowed 20 hits and four walks while striking out 19 hitters. Herrera has saved nine games in 2017, and had 12 saves last season. Though he doesn’t top 100 miles per hour consistently as he did in his first five major league seasons, Herrera’s fastball still sits in the high 90s, and his changeup is very effective.

In addition to Herrera, the Nationals would likely have interest in centerfielder Lorenzo Cain. One of four everyday Royals players (five total if you include starting pitcher Jason Vargas) that will become free agents at the end of the season, Cain would be a terrific half-season replacement for Eaton.

Through 41 games, Cain is hitting .272/.366/.358 with just one home run and nine RBI, but he leads the American League with 12 stolen bases. Cain also has a terrific defensive reputation. Using FanGraphs’ DEF metric (fielding runs above average), Cain ranks No. 16 among major league centerfielders all-time. Only Carlos Gomez has been worth more among active big leaguers in center.