MLB Trade Rumors: Can anyone help the Nationals get back on track?

MLB Trade Rumors: 5 players to get the Washington Nationals back on track

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals congratulated by Bryce Harper #34 after hitting a home run during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – JUNE 29: J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins in action against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on June 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

1. J.T. Realmuto

Catcher has been the biggest weakness this year for the Nationals, and their backstops are the worst in the entire league. On the year, Washington catchers are hitting just .189/.283/.273 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Former All-Star Matt Wieters has been out since April with a hamstring injury, but could be back around the All-Star break. In 23 games before landing on the DL, Wieters was hitting a modest .231/.342/.385 with three home runs and seven RBI.

Young catcher Pedro Severino has stepped in for Wieters, but has struggled to hit big-league pitching. The 24-year-old is hitting .172/.260/.241 with a home run and 12 RBI in 59 games. The Nationals love the intangibles that Severino brings to the team, but his future is likely as a backup.

The Nationals need to be proactive in upgrading at catcher at the trade deadline. Wieters is in the final year of his contract, and the team can easily choose to walk away from him rather than insert him back into the starting lineup when he returns from the disabled list. The four-time All-Star has been a massive disappointment in Washington, and could honestly be out of baseball at the end of the year. His bat no longer warrants a spot in a lineup, and his defense has fallen off even more sharply.

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The Miami Marlins remain coy about their intentions with catcher J.T. Realmuto, but trading him now makes sense. He is their last remaining trade chip with real value. The 27-year-old is having the best year of his career, hitting .306/.359/.544 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 38 RBI. Realmuto will be an All-Star for the first time in his career thanks to his strong offensive production, but is also throwing out runners at a 42-percent clip.

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