Washington Nationals Prospects that could be dealt at the trade deadline

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The Washington Nationals are looking like buyers at the trade deadline in 2018. So which their prospects could be moved to add to their major league roster?

We’re now less than three weeks from the MLB trade deadline. Expect the Washington Nationals to make moves in the coming weeks.

In all likelihood, the Nats will be buyers again this year, after they went out and acquired Kelvin Herrera in June. In that deal, they dealt away the Blake Perkins, Kelvin Gutierrez and Yohanse Morel. Gutierrez was the Nationals’ number 10 prospect, and Perkins the number 11 prospect.

Although this isn’t a hefty cost, being willing to give up those prospects shows that Mike Rizzo is prepared to add at the deadline. So let’s look at who could be dealt from a prospect standpoint if the front office trades for a veteran.

Well, one thing is for certain, Juan Soto is not going anywhere this July. He was untouchable this off-season in the pursuit of J.T. Realmuto, which at the time seemed bold.

But now, given Soto’s rapid ascension through the organization, it’s proven Rizzo right about him. And the same untouchable label will likely go for Victor Robles.

Rizzo has had that label on him for some time. This includes before the 2017 season in potential Chris Sale and Andrew McCutchen trades. Now that he’s working his way back from injury, there’s no need to sell low.

But after that, it seems like the rest of the Nationals prospects would all be available in the right kind of deal. So let’s take a look at who could be available for trade this summer.

Nationals prospect rankings are according to MLB.com

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Carter Kieboom: SS/3B – Nationals #3 Prospect

Obviously, the big name to watch with the Washington Nationals this July is Carter Kieboom. If Mike Rizzo plans to make a huge move this winter, Kieboom will have to be part of the package.

Kieboom is having a monster season in 2018 and has been rewarded with a promotion to Double-A. Between the Potomac Nationals and Harrisburg Senators, he’s hitting .307 with 13 home runs and a .880 OPS.

The younger Kieboom had always been well regarded for his contact and being able to hit for a good average. But the power has really taken a step forward this season and had him rising up prospect lists.

With the 13 he has this year, he’s now doubled his professional career total in 30 fewer games. As a result, MLB.com did a re-rank of some prospects, and the Nationals’ shortstop was a big mover.

In pre-season, he was ranked at #90 and now sits at #62, but he could easily be a top 50 prospect in short order.

Throughout his professional career, he’s roamed shortstop since being drafted in 2016. However, some prospect evaluators believe that he may profile better at third base with an electric arm.

The Nats could see him as insurance if Anthony Rendon departs in free agency. On the other hand, they could make a significant upgrade either in the rotation or behind the plate by surrendering Kieboom.

So only expect to see him go if the Nationals go get a controllable star, but it could happen.

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Jefry Rodriguez: SP – Nationals #13 Prospect

A name that’s already familiar with those watching the Washington Nationals this year. Jefry Rodriguez could be a potentially appealing name for rebuilding teams.

As of right now, it’s clear that he’s not quite major league ready. He possesses a 6.86 ERA on the year, with a worrisome 12 walks compared to just 17 strikeouts.

He has at least flashed his raw stuff, with a plus fastball and plus curveball. However, he still needs to work on his changeup before he can become a major league starter.

A lot of teams would certainly welcome a player with a few kinks to work out at the top level. Remember, a lot of the teams the Nats would deal with are already out of contention, therefore can persist with Rodriguez in the majors.

The other reason a team could easily value Rodriguez highly is for the exact reason we mentioned earlier. He has two plus major league pitches.

Having these would give him the floor of a potentially electric bullpen arm. Other failed starters such as Brad Hand and Brandon Morrow have gone on to be dominant relievers in baseball.

Currently, his fastball sits in the mid-90s, so he could get that up to 99 as a reliever. The curveball is devastating and would be a good out pitch should he need it.

Someone like the Pittsburgh Pirates would love a pitcher like Rodriguez. They took a chance on Felipe Vazquez in a similar situation as a reliever who needed seasoning, and it paid off. So there’s plenty of appeal in someone like Jefry Rodriguez.

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Daniel Johnson OF – Nationals #8 Prospect

With the Washington Nationals stacked at outfield, they could very well deal Daniel Johnson. And he has plenty of appeal for any team that he may depart for.

First off, he had a breakout 2017, in which he won the Nationals’ Minor League Player of the Year. He hit 22 home runs and stole 22 bases while hitting .298 and slugging .505 last season.

That kind of power-speed combo will make front office executives drool. If he can get back to anything close to that in the upper levels of the minor leagues, he’ll easily be a major league regular.

The question is whether the power was just a fluke, or whether it’s legit. Well, in 2016 and so far in 2018, Johnson has just one long ball in each year. And in his first year at New Mexico State, he only hit two homers.

But in his final year in college, he did hit 12 bombs, so it’s possible we don’t know about the power just yet. However, between college and pro ball, the lowest average he’s had over a full season is .298, so there’s always that nice floor.

The stolen bases are there again in 2018 too, with 16 to his name so far. So perhaps he profiles as a Brian Goodwin type player with a bit of everything, but not exceptional at one thing.

Plenty of teams will covet that, and be prepared to make him a centerpiece in a deal. He may not be enough for a top-end guy, but perhaps someone like the Kansas City Royals could deal Danny Duffy with a package headlined by Daniel Johnson.

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Luis Garcia: IF – Nationals #5 Prospect

Luis Garcia is potentially one of the most tantalizing names in the Washington Nationals system. The latest international prospect riser in the organization, Garcia has a huge upside.

He was just named to the SiriusXM Futures Game held in D.C. this weekend, so he’ll be getting a taste of Nats Park. But that may not be his future big league home, depending on how Mike Rizzo handles the trade deadline.

Garcia is on the same international market success path as Juan Soto and Victor Robles. He continues to rake in the minors so far in 2018 and could rise through the ranks quickly.

He started fairly sluggish with a .198 average in April. But since the start of May, between two levels, he’s hitting .332, scoring 42 runs and sporting a .834 OPS.

In early July he was promoted to the Potomac Nationals, essentially to take the spot of Carter Kieboom. It was also recently reported that the Tampa Bay Rays had sent scouts to watch the P-Nats, in anticipation of a potential deal between them and the Nats.

So if the Rays have eyes on Luis Garcia, then Rizzo could easily be looking to acquire an upgrade at catcher or in the rotation. They likely wouldn’t deal Garcia for a rental, but if they either filled multiple needs or got a controllable player, they may put him on the table

Wilson Ramos has been linked with his former team for a while now, to improve them at catcher. But Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Archer have also been linked with the Nats too. Perhaps a package deal could be enough to tempt the front office to part with their prized Dominican infielder.

Telmito Agustin: OF – Nationals #22 Prospect

If the Washington Nationals are willing to deal a high-upside player for a rental player, then Telmito Agustin could be the way to go.

We know full well the Nationals aren’t always keen to part with the guys at the very top of the system. And when dealing a player whose contract expires at the end of the year, these high ceiling guys are good trade chips.

Agustin displayed what his potential could look like with the Potomac Nationals in 2018. He batted a remarkable .386 and even showed some nice pop with a 1.070 OPS at Single-A.

In 2017 he hit 10 homers, whereas between 2014 and 2016 he had nine. So the power development is extremely promising. The outfielder has also racked up the triples to make the use of his speed, with 22 in his minor league career.

However, his exceptional performance this year is fueled by a .417 BABIP, so maybe a bit deceiving. But regardless, he’s a very toolsy outfielder, that could easily be a major league player when fully developed.

But injuries have derailed his season a bit and has spent time rehabbing with the Auburn Doubledays. He came back to the P-Nats on June 21st, before going back on the DL shortly after, and is back with the Doubledays again.

We saw with the Kelvin Herrera trade, that the Kansas City Royals were keen on Blake Perkins. Perkins is a player in a similar mold to Agustin, with all the tools, but was a little more refined.

The Toronto Blue Jays are usually keen on their toolsy outfielders and work to refine them. So perhaps something would be worked out for J.A. Happ, and Agustin could be a piece in that type of deal.

Seth Romero: SP – Nationals #4 Prospect

Seth Romero is a bit of a wildcard, as the Washington Nationals aren’t likely to be impressed with his Spring Training antics. But he’s now back with the Auburn Doubledays and has flashed the first-round talent again.

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Although he has a 4.24 ERA, most of the damage from that came from his second start where he gave up five runs.

His strikeout total is impressive, as you would expect from someone of his caliber. In just 23.1 innings, he’s recorded 31 punchouts, good for nearly 12 K/9.

There’s no question that Romero could easily become a frontline starter in the majors based on talent alone. But as it’s always been, the question is whether he can keep himself out of trouble off the field.

These off-field issues include “a lack of effort regarding conditioning.” according to this Houston Chronicle article and a failed drug test where he tested positive for marijuana.

However, on top of that, Romero violated a club policy in Spring Training and was sent home. So it’s fair to wonder whether the decisions makers could be souring on him, as in general, they’ve shied away from players with off-field issues.

Other teams may be prepared to take on Seth Romero and all his baggage, however. It would be a high-risk high-reward move for the team that does acquire him though.

It’s difficult to predict who might be interested in Romero, but if a team is willing to give him a second chance, it would net a haul.

Perhaps the Royals are a partner again, as they recently expressed a possible interest in Luke Heimlich, who has even bigger off-field issues.

Next: Fold, stick or twist at the deadline?

Hopefully, the Washington Nationals will still be in a position to buy come the Trade Deadline. If so, it would be surprising if none of the above players were dealt.

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