Washington Nationals: 2017 trade deadline preview

STARTING PITCHER

Here is a position that will cause headaches right down to the wire.

The front three starters are All-Star’s or should be. Tanner Roark, however, struggles at four while Joe Ross is a prototypical fifth starter. Come October, Ross moves to long relief. Those are the guys who deliver gritty outings in bad situations.

Roark remains a mystery and the Nats are in deep trouble if anyone gets hurt. There is not anyone on the farm capable of being a regular starter if needed. AJ Cole is on the team and sits in the back of the bullpen perfecting his sunflower seed spitting and card playing.

Austin Voth—who was a star in the Arizona Fall League last year—cannot get Triple-A hitters out. Erick Fedde, the top pitching prospect, is now a reliever. Any help will need to come elsewhere.

Jason Vargas, Johnny Cueto, Clayton Richard and Derek Holland are all names MLB Trade Rumors think might move that would not cost a high price tag. Forget Jose Quintana and Sonny Gray, the prospect cost rivals what you pay for a souvenir soda at the park.

Other teams will pay more for starting pitching. Any move by Mike Rizzo will need creativity. If a team takes MLB money back, you could see rumors fly.

What Roark does his starts before the all-star break are huge. A return to form and the status quo stays. Another hairball coughed up like Monday in Miami and all bets are off.