With the MLB Trade Deadline around the corner, the Washington Nationals are looking like they will be sellers. Since the start of the season, there have been talks that they would be sellers. The Nationals have an open mind and are willing to let go of their free agents and players signed with control in their contracts into the 2025 season. While the Nationals have a top-ranked prospect, James Wood, and elected All-Star CJ Abrams, they are still struggling. They are now seven games below .500 and are 51/2 games back for the final Wild Card spot.
The #Nationals are preparing to be trade deadline sellers, per The Athletic.
WAS is expected to entertain offers for OF Jesse Winker and RHP Dylan Floro and is open to moving players under control through next season. pic.twitter.com/fhoQPEaI5j
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 9, 2024
Nationals Looking Like Sellers
Free Agent Frenzy
The Nationals have an abundance of free agents on their roster. For example, Jesse Winker, Patrick Corbin, Dylan Foro, Joey Gallo, and Trevor Williams, who is on the IL. Winker is an outfielder, Corbin is a lefty, Foro is a righty reliever, Gallo is a slugger having a down season, and injured Williams is a starter. Williams’s last game was on May 30th, and he was sporting a 2.22 ERA with a 5-0 record.
Players With Controlled Contracts
It’s been a continuous trend that players with controlled contracts are peaking the most hype at the deadline. Players like Lane Thomas, Hunter Harvey, and Kyle Finnegan all fall in that category. Finnegan is sailing smoothly with a 2.17 ERA on the season. The Nationals need to stick with the game plan. This year, the team had a game plan orchestrated to be sellers at the deadline. The fact that this team has been outplaying projections for the second straight year is a positive sign. In addition, the rebuild is finished. It is time for the Nationals to make a big starting pitcher signing this off-season. The Nationals are an exciting team, but it is probably the right choice to get some prospects back and get some youngsters up in the majors.
While getting traded can sometimes come as a shock and be hard for players, it can also be very valuable. A famous quote about trade deadlines by Glenn Liebman states, “Being traded is like celebrating your 100th birthday. It might not be the happiest occasion in the world, but consider the alternative.”
Main Photo: © Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
