Washington Nationals: Five possible starting pitching trade targets
By Monty Taylor
The Washington Nationals have a lot of work to do as they approach the All-Star Break. With a lack of depth in the rotation, who should they acquire?
The Washington Nationals are in the unusual position of needing a starting pitcher as the trade deadline approaches on July 31st. What was once a strength has become a glaring weakness over the last month.
For the first 55 games of the season, the Nationals rotation led the National League with a 2.86 ERA. Since the start of June, however, the starting ERA is over 6. Even worse, Nationals starting pitchers are averaging less than five innings a start so far in the month of July.
Only Max Scherzer has been excellent all season and is in the conversation for his third consecutive NL Cy Young.
Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark got off to great starts but lately have been mediocre at best. Jeremy Hellickson has returned from injury but rarely goes through an opposing lineup more than twice.
Jefry Rodriguez and Erick Fedde have filled in when needed, but neither has shown that they are ready to be Major League starters. Former All-Star Stephen Strasburg has been on the DL since June 10th and is set to return in the next few weeks, but the Mike Rizzo should still consider adding to their rotation.
If the Nationals want to compete with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves for the division title, then they’ve got to acquire at least another arm for their rotation. Here are five realistic options Rizzo should consider.