Washington Nationals: 2017 trade deadline preview

As the Washington Nationals decide what they need most at the upcoming trade deadline, here are five positions you may see them upgrade.

The Washington Nationals enter the trade deadline period with an iron-fisted grip on the National League East.

Barring an utter collapse of historic proportions, the Nats will go back the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in consecutive years. What happens when they get there is anyone’s guess. If the season ended today, they would enjoy home field in the NL Divisional Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Still, it is June and a lot can and will happen between now and October. As magnificent as the Nats are this year—and they truly are—merely hosting the NL Central champions in the NLDS is not enough. The 2017 season instead is about winning a playoff series.

Whoever survives the crazy NL West will play the Nats if they advance. To get that far, Washington must take a hard look in the mirror and fix the flaws that can derail this team. The 25 players on the roster heading back home from another road trip will not be the same lining up along the first base line come Game 1.

Something must give.

As this period of self-reflection begins, there are five areas of weakness the Nats can work on. Some are not as urgent as others while the price for fixing the biggest will hurt.

Remember, the team as constructed took three of four in Denver against the Colorado Rockies and two of three at Chavez Ravine versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. At home with the Arizona Diamondbacks for three, Washington won two. Granted Adam Eaton was there, but the offense is still running fine.

Here is where the Nats can improve, from upgrade to trade now for help.

BACKUP CATCHER

One of the defining moments of last season came on a rainy night in September. Following a short rain delay, Wilson Ramos crumpled in the mud writhing in pain. He tore an ACL ending his Nats career. Although Jose Lobaton and Pedro Severino played well in the playoffs, losing Ramos’ bat stung.

Flash forward to today. Matt Wieters has filled the starting job well, but Lobaton is not good. With a slash line of .152/.200/.273 before Wednesday’s loss to Miami, Lobaton is an automatic out. On defense, his metrics are negative and struggles to throw out runners. Almost as much as Wieters.

As Wieters will be the everyday playoff catcher, giving someone recovering from Tommy John surgery extra time off down the stretch is a good idea. As Severino struggles in Triple-A Syracuse, the answer does not lie up north. Not yet.

If things remain as they are, Lobaton does not hurt the overall picture. His defensive lapses are maddening, but he is the backup. No reason to trade unless Wieters gets hurt.

If a cheap backup gets signed, then Lobaton is gone. No need to send prospects, this position can be upgraded cheap if needed. Reality says no change unless someone gets hurt.

OUTFIELDER

When Adam Eaton’s season ended versus the New York Mets, there was reason for concern.

Michael Taylor’s other chances to earn the job had failed. A .216 average and his swinging at any pitch within the area code did not bode well for the future. Over the two months since, he changed that thinking. His defense is stellar and the short, compact swing has a BAbip of .361.

Although some wish for Lorenzo Cain from the Kansas City Royals or Andrew McCutchen—who the Nats wanted badly last fall—Taylor won the job and may carry it into next season.

Replacing Jayson Werth is different.

Since going down with a foot contusion in Oakland, Brian Goodwin and Ryan Raburn have filled in. How long before Werth returns is a mystery as are most injuries for Washington. For now, the combo has done the job.

Provided Werth returns and the injury bug stays away, there is no reason to send prospects away for an outfielder. Alejandro De Aza is in Triple-A with Syracuse and can fill in when needed.

If they lose Bryce Harper, you cannot replace him without a boatload of prospects.

As with Lobaton, upgrades would be nice but not a necessity.

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.

BULLPEN SETUP

No one is happy with the bullpen. Balls fly out of the yard enough to distract air traffic controllers over at Reagan National Airport.

Dusty Baker trusts nobody, leaving tiring starters to get overworked. Shawn Kelley’s on the disabled list. Blake Treinen’s confidence was last seen on a milk carton. When Matt Albers and Ollie Perez are your aces along with Enny Romero, when he throws strikes, you have problems.

This is not 1985. Washington cannot expect seven innings from a starter and two from the closer. That is if they know who is closing. That gets it’s own slide. Would someone please return Koda Glover?

The return of Sammy Solis bolsters the left-handers and probably ends the need for Brad Hand from San Diego.

Regardless of who closes, they cannot bridge games to close. Ryan Madson, Justin Wilson and others can do that but will demand a high price. Although you can try them at closer, the best fit is setting up. And also sets up another high-cost trade.

The saving grace is playoff games are bullpen affairs, and this pen has improved. It is not great or legendary in a good way, but can give you multiple innings of good ball. Unless Blanton and Kelley give up home runs.

Fedde is a wild card once he gets the call, but do not expect miracles.