Washington Nationals: 5 potential mid-season trade targets

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The Washington Nationals have made several significant mid-season trades over the last few years. Here are five potential mid-season trade targets for 2018.

The Washington Nationals have been linked to several big-ticket free agents this off-season, yet they have remained relatively quiet. They re-signed Brandon Kintzler and Howie Kendrick, in addition to inking Matt Adams, but they have not made any drastic roster moves.

While it does not make for the exciting off-season that most fans would prefer, the Nats were expected to lay low. They did not lose much after 2017, and they had in-house replacements to cover their losses, so there was no need to splurge.

It is still possible that they sign a big-name free agent in the coming weeks before Spring Training, but it becomes increasingly likely every day that they stay put. They could certainly use a catcher or starting pitcher, but their in-house options are adequate, at least for now.

However, if their in-house candidates are not effective in the first half, the Nats could make a few moves at the trade deadline. This would not be anything out of the ordinary, as the Nats have made significant mid-season trades in each of the previous few seasons.

As Mike Rizzo often says, “The division is won in the off-season; the World Series is won at the trade deadline.” Well, as things currently stand, the Nats are all but guaranteed to win the division. Now, they need to make the necessary moves at the trade deadline to put themselves in a position to win it all.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at five potential mid-season trade targets for the Nats.

Kelvin Herrera

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Nats will have a strong bullpen to begin the season. Last year’s mid-season trades for Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson, and Sean Doolittle fortified the relief corps for the stretch run, and the big three will lead the way again in 2018.

However, question marks surround the rest of the bullpen. Koda Glover, Shawn Kelley, Sammy Solis, and Enny Romero all battled injuries last season, and may struggle in 2018. If this is the case, the Nats should consider trading for Kelvin Herrera.

Herrera, a 28-year-old reliever, has established himself as one of the most dominant and decorated relievers in the league. He has spent his entire seven-year career with the Kansas City Royals, where he has become a World Series champion and two-time All-Star.

Now, Herrera is entering his final year under team control. Although he has become a staple of the Royals’ bullpen, he is likely to be traded at the deadline. After losing Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Lorenzo Cain after the 2017 season, the Royals are unlikely to contend. Add in the difficult AL Central, and they are seemingly destined for a long year.

If the Royals shop Herrera at the deadline, he could be a great fit with the Nats. Adding him to the already-elite trio of Kintzler, Madson, and Doolittle would create a near-unhittable quartet in the back-end of the bullpen. If Glover, Kelley, Solis, and Romero are able to remain healthy, the Nats could have the best bullpen in the league.

The Nats have reportedly been interested in Herrera for a few years now, but this could be the year that they finally reel him in.

J.A. Happ

The Nats have one of the best starting rotations in the league, but the fifth spot is currently up for grabs. With Joe Ross set to potentially miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the spot will likely go to A.J. Cole, Edwin Jackson, or Erick Fedde.

Cole, Jackson, or Fedde would work fine for the first half of the season, since the Nats are the overwhelming favorite to win the division, but they will likely elect to trade for a starter at the deadline.

Although there will be several starters available, J.A. Happ should be one of their best options. Despite being 35 years old, the left-hander has managed to remain effective. His 3.53 ERA ranked tenth in the American League in 2017, and he was a bright spot on an otherwise lackluster Blue Jays team.

Happ is entering his final season under team control, which means the Blue Jays could look to move him at the deadline. Although they currently believe they can contend, that is not likely to be the case, due to their aging core and elite competition in the AL East.

If Happ is made available at the trade deadline, he could be a great fit with the Nats. He would give the Nats five reliable starting pitchers, completing their postseason rotation. He could also serve as a mentor for the Nats’ younger pitchers, such as Fedde and Cole.

Finally, Happ could prove to be an enormous asset in the postseason. He has appeared in ten postseason games throughout his career, pitching to a 3.72 ERA. For a team who has yet to advance past the National League Division Series, this postseason experience would be a welcome addition.

If Happ proves that he is still effective in the first half, he should garner plenty of interest at the trade deadline. The Nats figure to be among his potential suitors, and they should do what they can to bring him to DC.

Hunter Pence

One of the best stories from the Nats’ 2017 season was the emergence of Michael Taylor. He received an opportunity to play everyday after Adam Eaton suffered a season-ending injury, and he did took full advantage of it.

Eaton will return this year, but Taylor’s spot remains open due to the likely departure of Jayson Werth. While Taylor appeared to finally be tapping into his potential in 2017, there is no guarantee that he will have similar success in 2018. He struggled for years, so it is not completely unwarranted to wonder if he can repeat his success.

If Taylor regresses, the Nats may look to acquire another outfielder at the trade deadline. 2018 figures to be a fateful season for the Nats, and they should be all-in to win it all. If the Nats are in the market for an outfielder, Hunter Pence is a name to watch.

Pence is coming off of a bit of a down year by his standards, but he still hit .260 in 2017. That’s not too shabby, especially in what was supposedly a down year.

Now, Pence is a big part of what could potentially be an exciting year for the Giants. They have acquired Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen this off-season in an effort to go on one last run with their aging core.

However, if their strategy of adding veterans to an already-aging core does not work, they may become sellers at the trade deadline. Pence would be an obvious candidate to be traded, considering 2018 is his final season under team control.

If Pence is on the block, he could be a solid fit with the Nats. Acquiring Pence would require the Nats to move Eaton back to center field, but that should not be an issue.

With the Nats, Pence could join forces with Eaton and Bryce Harper to form one of the best outfield trios in the league. He could also serve as a bridge to Victor Robles, since Robles is not expected to be ready for an everyday role until 2019.

Finally, Pence would provide a plethora of postseason experience. He has hit .254 in 43 postseason games throughout his career, en route to becoming a two-time World Series champion. Perhaps this could allow the Nats to finally exorcise their postseason demons.

Although Pence is past his prime, he could be an excellent addition for the stretch run and postseason. It is a bit unorthodox, but he is certainly worth considering.

J.T. Realmuto

Matt Wieters and Jose Lobaton combined to form a horrific catching tandem in 2017, which possibly led to the Nats’ ultimate demise. Lobaton has since signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets, but Wieters will return in 2018.

As things currently stand, Pedro Severino and Raudy Read will compete in Spring Training for the role of back-up catcher. This is a fine solution for the first half, but the Nats may look to acquire a more experienced catcher for the stretch run and postseason.

If this is the case, J.T. Realmuto could be a perfect fit. The Nats have seen plenty of Realmuto, since he plays for their division rival, and there is a lot to like.

The 26-year-old backstop has established himself as one of the best catchers in the league, using his athleticism to become a fantastic all-around player. He would be an unorthodox trade candidate, considering he has three years of team control remaining, but the Marlins are in the midst of a full-fledged fire sale.

Realmuto has made it obvious that he wants out of Miami, but the Marlins’ asking price has proven to be too much for potential suitors. Their asking price will likely drop at the trade deadline, which is when the Nats should pounce on this rare opportunity.

If the Nats are able to acquire Realmuto, they will receive an elite catcher that is under team control through 2020. Opportunities like this do not arise everyday, and the Nats should be all over it if the price is reasonable.

Adding Realmuto to an already-potent lineup would create nightmares for opposing pitchers, and could potentially put the Nats over the top. Although it would be costly, trading for Realmuto would be worth it.

Tyler Flowers

If the Nats find Realmuto to be too costly, Tyler Flowers is another excellent option. Like Realmuto, the Nats have seen plenty of Flowers playing for a division rival.

Flowers does not receive much national attention since he plays for the Atlanta Braves, but he has quietly established himself as a solid all-around catcher. He has hit at least .270 in each of the last two seasons, which is extraordinary for a catcher.

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Although Flowers has been exceptional for Atlanta, he could presumably be traded in 2018. It is his final season under team control, and the Braves are not yet ready to contend. Because of this, they may elect to trade Flowers and receive prospects in return instead of just letting him walk.

If the Nats acquire Flowers, they would be be getting a vast improvement over Wieters. At this point in his career, Flowers is much better than Wieters both offensively and defensively.

Flowers’ 2017 batting average was 56 points higher than Wieters’, which speaks for itself, but Flowers is also much better behind the plate.

According to Baseball Prospectus, Wieters’ FRAA (Fielding Runs Above Average) was an atrocious -12.9, which ranked third-worst among all catchers. Flowers, on the other hand, owned a 23.5 FRAA, which was second-best among catchers.

If the Nats are looking for a solid catcher that would come relatively cheap, Flowers is their man.

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The Nats are a great team as things currently stand, but there is definitely room for improvement. Mike Rizzo is certain to make a few trades at the deadline, and Kelvin Herrera, J.A. Happ, Hunter Pence, J.T. Realmuto, and Tyler Flowers are a few early candidates.

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