Washington Nationals: Should they stick, twist or fold?

The Washington Nationals are heading towards a franchise-defining decision this July. In 2018, should they stick, twist or fold at the trade deadline?

In the midst of a poor run, the Washington Nationals are hurtling full speed towards a franchise-altering decision. What should they do with the trade deadline looming this month?

Nobody would’ve pictured the Nats being anything other than buyers heading to the deadline, but recent form means a decision is looming. They’ve lost 10 of their 13 games, and 19 of 29 since the start of June.

Their record fell below the dreaded .500 mark for the first time since May 2nd. The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are also a lot better than was expected at the start of the year. So it’s looking like a long way back to make the playoffs.

The trade deadline is always a date circled many times on any MLB executive’s calendar. A chance to set your team’s course for the rest of the year, or for the future.

So the Nationals currently have three options on how to deal with the date:

• Stick – Don’t make any big moves, maybe add a small piece
• Twist – Make a big move, acquiring one or two difference makers
• Fold – Trade away players in an effort to top up a reasonable farm system

In this article, we take a look at what will come with each approach, and who may be moved in that scenario. Then decide which is the best course of action for the Nationals. First, what happens if the Nats hold firm with what they have.