Washington Nationals: Top Five All-Time Non-Waiver Trades

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Jun 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (L) looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

With the trade deadline being a day away, I give you my top five Washington Nationals non-waiver trades since 2005

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals were able to acquire closer Mark Melancon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn. Melancon is the second closer the Washington Nationals have traded for in the last two seasons (Jonathan Papelbon in 2015).

With the non-waiver trade deadline now less than a week away, we thought we would take a look back at some of the trades the Washington Nationals have made since they moved to Washington D.C. since 2005.

One trade that isn’t on this list I wanted to touch on occurred in 2008 when the Nats sent reliever Jon Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio played in 41 games for the Nats, but he was one of the players that went to the Marlins in November for Josh Willingham (40 home runs in two years with the Nats).

It remains to be seen how the Melancon deal will turn out, but the Washington Nationals and their fans are hoping that it vaults into the top five in the future if Melancon can provide the stability in the ninth inning that helps the Nats get to October baseball and to make a run in the postseason.

So, without further ado, here is my top five non-waiver trades (in season) in Washington Nationals history. Be sure to share what you think is the best trade the Nats have made in their history.

Next: Number 5

Mar 19, 2015; Melbourne, FL, USA; A view of Space Coast Stadium during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

July 13, 2005 – Preston Wilson

This trade with the Colorado Rockies was the second trade the Washington Nationals made during their inaugural season in DC. One month earlier, they traded starter Tomo Ohka to the Milwaukee Brewers for second baseman Junior Spivey (only played 28 games with the Nats).

At the time of the Wilson trade, the Washington Nationals were in first place in the NL East by 2.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. In the trade for Preston Wilson, the Rockies got back outfielder J.J. Davis, pitcher Zach Day, and cash.

Wilson had 15 home runs and 47 RBI’s with Colorado in the first half of the 2005 season. But, once the second half got underway, the Washington Nationals lost 11 of their next 14 games and went from being ahead of the Braves to being five back (two out of the Wild Card).

Despite the team’s struggles, Wilson was the team’s best hitter in many categories. The 30-year-old hit .261 with ten home runs and 43 RBI’s in 68 games and had a .329 on-base percentage. But, that season would be his last in DC as Wilson signed with the Astros in January 2006.

As for the players the Rockies got back, Davis never appeared in a big league game for Colorado and Day had a 9.12 ERA in eight games with the Rockies from 2005-06. Even though the Nats didn’t make the playoffs that season, Wilson did help the offense and the team didn’t give up anyone that came back to bite them. I would call that a win for Jim Bowden.

This wasn’t the best trade that Wilson was a part of in his career. Back in May 1998, Wilson was one of three players who went from the Mets to the Marlins when New York acquired now Hall Of Fame catcher Mike Piazza.

Next: Number 4

Oct 21, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Morse hits a RBI single against the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning during game one of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

June 28, 2009 – Michael Morse

Back when the first trade involving Morse happened, the Washington Nationals were 26-51 and in last place in the NL East. Meanwhile, the Mariners were three games back in the AL West (39-36) and looking for some help in the outfield.

One week before the Morse trade, Endy Chavez collided with shortstop Yunieski Betancourt and ended up having to miss the rest of the season due to torn ligaments in his knee. So, the Mariners ended up trading Morse to the Nats for Ryan Langerhans, who at the time was at triple-A Syracuse. He hit .212 in his two seasons with the Nats (2007-08).

When the Nats got Morse, he was hitting .312 with ten home runs and 42 RBI’s to go with a .372 on-base percentage in the Pacific Coast League. While he didn’t get much Major League playing time in 2009, he ended up being a key player in the offense two years later.

In 2011, Morse hit 31 home runs and drove in 95 runs and finished in the top ten in batting average (.303), RBI’s, OPS (.910), and slugging percentage (.550). After the 2012 season, Morse went back to Seattle in a three-team deal in which the Nats got A.J. Cole, Blake Treinen, and Ian Krol from the A’s.

As for Langerhans, he only played 38 games with the Mariners and hit a mere .218 with three home runs and ten RBI’s. During his time in Seattle, Langerhans hit .200 with nine home runs and 20 RBI’s over three season.

So, for this trade involving two players who got a change of scenery while in triple-A, the Nats got the better end of the deal with Morse, who ended up blossoming in the Nation’s Capital.

Next: Number 3

Aug 1, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera (3) fields a ground ball in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

July 31, 2014 – Asdrubal Cabrera

Right before the 2014 trade deadline, the Washington Nationals were looking for infield help since third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had to go on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury.

With Anthony Rendon having to move over to third base from left base, the Nats needed another middle infielder. At the deadline, they acquired Asdrubal Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians for prospect Zach Walters. Cabrera was hitting .246 with nine home runs and 40 RBI’s in 97 games before the trade.

Cabrera played in 49 games for the Washington Nationals and hit .229 with five home runs and 21 RBI’s, but his additions helped the Nats clinch the NL East title. Heading into the trade deadline two years ago, the Nats were in first and 1.5 games ahead of the Braves. In the end, they won the division by 17 games.

July 30, 2010 – Tanner Roark

The top two trades on this list both took place before the 2010 trade deadline, a season in which the Washington Nationals ended up finishing in the cellar in the NL East. This was the second of the two trades they made leading up to the deadline, but it landed the Nats one of their current starting pitchers.

With Ian Kinsler on the disabled list at the time, the Texas Rangers were looking for some help in the infield. So, the Washington Nationals dealt infielder Cristian Guzman to Texas for pitchers Ryan Tatusko and Tanner Roark.

Of course, Roark is the name everyone remembers from this trade. He made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals in 2013 and is 36-24 in his four seasons with the Nats. This includes a 15-win season in 2014 with a 2.85 ERA and his ten wins so far this season (2.96 ERA).

As for Tatusko, he never made it up to the Major Leagues as his final season in the Nats organization came in 2014 with triple-A Syracuse (5-5, 2.85 ERA in 14 starts). He ended up playing part of the 2014 season in Korea as well.

Meanwhile, Guzman barely saw the field for the Rangers. He played in 15 games for Texas and hit .152 during that stretch. Texas made the postseason that year, but Guzman didn’t get to play. In the end, the Nats won this deal mainly because Roark has been one of the keys to their rotation in two of the last three years.

Next: Number 1

Jun 16, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) singles during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

July 29, 2010 – Wilson Ramos

When you look at this trade that the Washington Nationals and Twins made back in 2010, this is one of the deals where each team ended up getting a current or future All-Star. At the trade deadline in 2010, the Twins were looking for another reliever to add to their bullpen.

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So, the Washington Nationals traded All-Star closer Matt Capps to the Twins in exchange for left-handed pitcher Joe Testa and a catching prospect by the name of Wilson Ramos.

Capps, who was 26-for-30 in saves for the Nats that season, ended up going 16-for-18 in saves with the Twins (27 appearances). The Twins ended up winning the AL Central in 2010, but lost to the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The right-hander would play his final two seasons in the Majors with the Twins (2011-2012).

Testa got as far as double-A Harrisburg, but never made it up to the big leagues. The star of this deal though is Ramos. Heading into the 2010 season, Ramos was ranked as the second best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America (Aaron Hicks was number one).

Since Joe Mauer was the catcher of the Twins, there wasn’t a spot for Ramos. However, Ramos found a spot in the Nation’s Capital. He has hit 15 home runs or more in five of the last six seasons. This year, Ramos is having the best season of his career as he is hitting .332 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI’s and he made the National League All-Star team.

Six years later, as we look back at this deal, the Twins got the closer they needed to make the playoffs, but the Washington Nationals found their everyday All-Star catcher for the future.

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