Washington Nationals: Winter Meetings Day Two Recap
By Chris Lacey
The Washington Nationals swung and missed on Day 2 of the Winter Meetings as Chris Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
The second day of the Winter Meetings for the Washington Nationals began with such optimism as they were in talks to acquire starting pitcher Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox.
However, another club in the Boston Red Sox presented a better offer.
Sale was traded to the Red Sox for minor league infielder Yoan Moncada, right-handed pitchers Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz and outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
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So the #WhiteSox get four of the #RedSox's top prospects, led by Yoan Moncada, RHP Michael Kopech, OF Luis Basabe and RHP Victor Diaz.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 6, 2016
This marked the second target that Nats were unsuccessful in acquiring during the meetings. The club had targeted reliever Mark Melancon, but he signed with San Francisco Giants on Monday.
It stings the Nationals couldn’t acquire Sale, but they didn’t need him desperately, as their starting rotation is still solid.
The primary reason the Nationals were unsuccessful in getting Sale is that they refused to include Trea Turner in any discussions, but their offer was substantial, per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball.
Trea Turner was deal breaker for nats, understandably. Offered giolito, robles and more for Sale. So very good offer.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2016
The team will turn their attention to Pittsburgh Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen. The two clubs were in discussion on Monday, but the Nats balked at the asking price from the Pirates.
It’s still possible the deal is completed to bring McCutchen to the nation’s capital.
Though the Nats came up short on Sale, they’ve set their sights on another White Sox starter in Jose Quintana, per Jon Heyman.
Quintana would be a great addition to their rotation. The southpaw has tossed at least 200 innings in each of the last four seasons.
He won’t come cheap as he has a very team-friendly contract that will pay him $36 million over the next four years.
It’s possible the offer they proposed for Sale would be enough to acquire Quintana.
Sale wasn’t the only move made by the Red Sox on Tuesday as the club made a deal for bullpen depth.
They sent shortstop Mauricio Dubon, right-handed pitcher Josh Pennington and first baseman Travis Shaw to the Milwaukee Brewers for Tyler Thornburg, says Jon Heyman.
This move didn’t impact the Nats as they weren’t linked to Thornburg.