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Washington Nationals: 2016 Winter Meetings Day 3 Thread

By Ricky Keeler

Apr 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on from the field before the game between the Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo looks on from the field before the game between the Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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What moves will the Washington Nationals make on Day 3 of the Winter Meetings?

So far, the Winter Meetings have not gone well for the Washington Nationals, to say the least. What will Day 3 have in store for them down in National Harbor, Maryland? There have been many names linked to the Nats this week, but they’ve been unable to land the big prize.

Co-Editor Ron Juckett and I will be taking you through the day giving you all the rumors and news surrounding the Winter Meetings and what’s going on with the Washington Nationals. Plus, tonight, Ron and I will be doing another livestream at 9 p.m ET to recap the day’s action.

Here is the link to our livestream:

You will find our updates below this paragraph:

11:37 p.m – Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network reports that Aroldis Chapman is going back to the Yankees for a five-year, $86 million deal. Once again, the Nats lose out on Chapman:

10:10 p.m – Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports and MLB Network tweets that the Pirates and Nats were close to a deal for Andrew McCutchen last night. Here’s who would’ve done that deal:

10:06 p.m – Jayson Stark of ESPN tweets that the Washington Nationals tried to get Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton before they dealt for Adam Eaton. Safe to say the Nats made the right choice:

7:20 p.m – Bob Nightengale from USA Today tweets that the Nats are in the hunt for Aroldis Chapman now that they have money available due to the Adam Eaton deal:

Jayson Stark wrote on ESPN that the market for closers is waiting on when Chapman will sign:

"“Now, said an executive of one interested team Wednesday, “Everyone is waiting on Chapman.”"

5:14 p.m – With the Eaton deal done, Byron Kerr of MASN is reporting talks are “gaining steam” between the Nats and Rays involving closer Alex Colome. Could be two big deals today!

5:05 p.m – Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network says White Sox would also be getting Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning. That is a huge haul for the White Sox:

5:03 p.m – Bob Nightengale of USA Today says that two other pitchers would go to the White Sox in the Eaton deal. Nats will be giving up their pitching depth in this deal:

5:01 p.m – Heyman is reporting that Lucas Giolito would be going to the White Sox in an Eaton deal:

4:55 p.m – Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports and MLB Network reports that the Pirates haven’t asked for Robles in a deal for McCutchen, but the main piece would be Lucas Giolito. But, if the Eaton deal gets done, it’s a moot point:

4:42 p.m – Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network says that the deal is close and Victor Robles is not part of the deal for the Nats. Good sign that they don’t have to give up their top position player prospect:

4:30 p.m – Looks like the Washington Nationals might be making a move. Scott Merkin, who writes about the White Sox for MLB.com, is reporting that Chicago is working on a deal that would send Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals:

4:00 p.m – Boras also gave his thoughts on Stephen Strasburg, who missed the end of last season due to injury:

3:26 p.m – Agent Scott Boras is at the Winter Meetings today and he had more to say on Bryce Harper, who is in the final two years of his contract:

2:26 p.m. – Our Ricky Keeler is writing this rumor up:

Quiet talks are the ones which tend to be more productive. If this works like other big news this week, expect something soon.

Certainly would fill Washington’s need for a closer.

1:51 p.m. – Again, this is not a surprise. If Robles and Giolito weren’t enough here, it’s time to move on:

Ricky talked about Eaton last night in the live stream. Despite the hurt feelings over how the White Sox handled the Sale tals, there are worthy players to be had. If Chicago will take MLB players back, all the better. (Not Trea Turner.)

1:45 p.m. – In case you were wondering if the Kansas City Royals might change their minds:

Can see why KC took this. Nationals are going to need to hunker down after these meetings and come up with a solid and slow approach.

1:22 p.m. – Ron Juckett here for a bit.

Outside of Ian Desmond,you can hear a pin drop in the hallways of the Gaylord Hotel.

11:39 a.m – Byron Kerr of MASN has the latest on the trade talks between the Nats and Pirates involving Andrew McCutchen and its an offer Pittsburgh said no to:

"The latest is the Pirates apparently balked at an offering that included Robles and right-hander Lucas Giolito, a source with knowledge of the discussions confirmed. (h/t Kerr, MASNSports.com)"

11:30 a.m – Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports have the terms of the deal for Desmond and it’s a big one. Good for him for finally getting his money:

11:22 a.m – In what should be considered a surprise, Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports and MLB  Network is reporting that the Colorado Rockies have signed Ian Desmond. The Rockies visit to Nats Park in 2017 will be July 28-30:

11:17 a.m – Kerr is also reporting that another name that has come up in trade talks with the Nats is a current member of their starting rotation:

10:25 a.m – In addition to Robles, Byron Kerr of MASN tweets there’s another outfield prospect teams are asking the Washington Nationals about:


10:00 a.m – Scott Miller of Bleacher Report and MLB Network Radio spoke to a Nats source about their plans going forward now that they have lost on Sale and Davis, but maybe it means a move is coming:

9:44 a.m – Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports and MLB Network says if the Wade Davis deal gets done with the Cubs, outfielder Jorge Soler would be the only player going to the Royals. Like the Sale trade, I don’t think the Nats had a player like Soler who could get the deal done:

9:20 a.m – Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio tweets that former Nats shortstop Ian Desmond has a chance to sign today with a team:

9:16 a.m – Jeff Passan of YAHOO Sports tweets that teams think that closers Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen are closer to make their decision on which teams to sign with. Might something happen today?

8:50 a.m – My fellow co-editor Ron Juckett has made the case that the Nats should go after Rays starter Chris Archer in a trade, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Here is what Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post wrote this morning on Archer:

"“The Nationals do not have much interest in him [Jose Quintana], nor in Rays ace Archer, according to a person with direct knowledge of their thinking…. The Nationals seem unlikely to bid high for his services.”"

8:40 a.m – Ken Rosenthal has plenty of notes on the Washington Nationals offseason so far in his latest column on FOXSports.com. Here is what Rosenthal wrote about the Nats pursuit of the elite closers and their interest, or lack thereof, in White Sox starter Jose Quintana:

"“The Nats consider themselves a longshot to sign free-agent closer Aroldis Chapman, according to major-league sources; his price likely will exceed their comfort level, and the same probably is true with Kenley Jansen…. they are not interested in acquiring the White Sox’s lesser prize, left-hander Jose Quintana, or any other starter.” (h/t Rosenthal, FOX Sports)"

Rizzo has a plan, but it remains to be seen what that plan is going to be after all the misses the Washington Nationals have had in the offseason so far.

8:00 a.m ET – Late last night, there were some interesting rumors regarding the package the Washington Nationals were willing to give up on Chris Sale and the latest on Andrew McCutchen. Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post tweeted that the Nats were willing to throw Reynaldo Lopez into the deal along with Lucas Giolito and Victor Robles:

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Svrluga and Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post also both reported that Robles is now off the table in future discussions. This makes sense because Robles is the best position player prospect in the Washington Nationals farm system, even if it means not getting McCutchen:

If none of those big prospects are available, it’s safe to say that maybe the big blockbuster trades are over with for the Washington Nationals, unless Rizzo can find a creative way to land McCutchen. However, as Mike Rizzo has pointed out this week in more ways than one, the Nats have many options to address their needs.

Next: Which Closers Are A Good Fit?

Keep it here at District On Deck for all of your latest news surrounding the Nats.

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