Washington Nationals: Top 10 MLB Trade Deadline moves of All-Time

10 – Rockies flip Ryan Mattheus to the Nationals (2009)

The Washington Nationals haven’t actually made as many trade deadline moves as you may think since the franchise moved to D.C. before the 2005 season. So this deal for Ryan Mattheus makes the list, as he did end up being a useful player for the Nats.

They traded away Joe Beimel, a left-handed reliever who signed a one year deal with the Nats before the 2009 season. But at mid-season, the team was on its way to a second consecutive 100 loss season, and at the deadline, they were dealing whatever they could.

Beimel had 10 holds in 39.2 innings, while possessing a 3.40 ERA for the Nationals and was bound to make a nice addition for a contender. The Colorado Rockies ended up calling for him and secured his services.

In return, the Nationals got Ryan Mattheus, who became a key part of the bullpen between 2011-2014. They also got Robinson Fabian, but unfortunately, he was never able to make it past High-A.

Back to Mattheus. He never quite consistently worked his way into high-leverage spots, recording just 31 holds in four seasons with the team. But he was useful to have and could get the job done, as evidenced by his 3.60 ERA in that time.

He also holds a little bit of Nationals history too. He was the first Washington Nationals pitcher to record a post-season win since the franchise moved to D.C. in 2005.

He pitched a scoreless seventh inning with a 2-1 deficit against the St Louis Cardinals in game one of the NLDS. Then in the top of the eighth, Tyler Moore came through with a huge two out, two RBI single to put the Nats on top.

Although he does hold that historic moment, overall his Nationals career was distinctly average. But given the lack of deadline trades, he cracks the list at number 10.

9 – Washington Nationals grab Brandon Kintzler (2017)

While a certain trade involving relievers in 2017 is still to come in this list, the Washington Nationals acquiring Brandon Kintzler makes the list too. He was a very under-the-radar addition on the day of the trade deadline in 2017.

Kintzler had been closing games for the Minnesota Twins in 2016 and 2017. Despite not recording the gaudy strikeout totals that people think of with closers, the right-hander was about as reliable as they come.

He recorded 45 saves in 52 opportunities and held a 2.98 ERA in his time with the Twins. He was a perfect addition to the back of the bullpen which prompted the Nats to make the call.

Speaking of the call, in one of the more bizarre deadline experiences, Kintzler said he found out about the trade while feeding rhinos at the zoo.

He developed the nickname Rhino from that point onwards, and he certainly did his job for the team. He posted a 3.46 ERA in 26 innings and was a well above average seventh-inning man.

Tyler Watson was the only player given up in the trade. The left-handers still a work in progress while ranking outside of the Twins top 30 prospects and is still yet to post an ERA under 4.28 with any team in full-season ball.

Kintzler certainly helped to plug the final leaks in a disastrous bullpen in 2017. Therefore, he fully deserves to sneak onto this list.

8 – Washington Nationals add Asdrubal Cabrera (2014)

After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Washington Nationals were back atop the division in 2014. Heading to the deadline, they had a pretty gaping hole at second base with Danny Espinosa not quite cutting it.

Asdrubal Cabrera broke out with the Cleveland Indians in 2011 when he hit 25 home runs, stole 17 bases and contributed a 4.7 WAR. That year he garnered MVP votes, but in 2013 and 2014 he slumped back to his previous career levels.

The Nats took a shot on him as a pending free agent, hoping to rediscover the 2011-2012 version. It didn’t quite pay off the way they hoped, but they did at least get a useful player, and an upgrade over Espinosa.

For the Nationals, he hit .229, with five home runs, 21 RBI, and a .800 OPS. He also hit a big home run in game one of the NLDS with the Nats rallying late against the San Francisco Giants.

Cabrera only flashed brief moments of some of the defense that had him in gold glove consideration early in his career. Having to play at second base, with Ian Desmond locked in at shortstop, he was a below average defender there with a -1.0 dWAR.

The deal was just a straight swap for, at the time semi-promising prospect, Zach Walters. Primarily a third baseman, Anthony Rendon was blocking his path to regular playing time.

Walters played a bit-part role for the Indians in 2014 and 2015 but did not impress. Over those two years, he hit just .161 and put up a 51 wRC+, hitting way below what was expected.

So given the price they paid, it was a worthwhile gamble for the Nationals, hoping Cabrera returning to his old self, and he makes it onto the list.

7 – Washington Nationals receive Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez (2006)

This was the first big in-season trade in the history of the Washington Nationals. They acquired two good major leaguers, for a whole bunch of fringe players that didn’t end up making a huge impact.

Austin Kearns was probably the most well-known name to come over in the trade. He came third in the rookie of the year voting in 2002 and looked like he was heading back to that level with the Cincinnati Reds in 2006.

At the time of the deal, Kearns was hitting .274 with a .843 OPS and 16 home runs. He was an instant upgrade for the team in right-field early on in his Nats tenure.

In 2006 and 2007, Kearns put up a combined 107 wRC+, meaning he was a little above average hitting wise. However, in 2008 and 2009, he nosedived. In those two years, he could only hit .209 and had a wRC+ of just 73.

Felipe Lopez was coming off of his best year in Cincinnati where he was an All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner in 2005. However, he couldn’t get close to that form with the Nationals. His batting line reads a mediocre .250/.320/.344 and was eventually released in July of 2008.

Although the Nationals barely gave up much to acquire these two relatively solid players, and the excitement factor around the trade was cool, overall it can’t be considered among the very top part of this list.

6 – Washington Nationals pick up Howie Kendrick (2017)

When the MLB Trade Deadline rolls around, there always seems to be a trade for a less heralded bench bat that pays dividends. In 2017, you could argue it was Howie Kendrick for the Washington Nationals.

Over the seasons leading up to this one, Kendrick had played gone from the LA Angels starting second baseman to a super-utility player with their neighbor LA Dodgers.

Then in 2017, he was having a great bounce-back season for the Philadelphia Phillies. His slash line was an excellent .340/.397/.454, which peaked the interest of the Nationals.

He proved a weapon off the bench, as well as filling in for the injured Jayson Werth during the stretch run. He hit .293, with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in his final 52 games of the season.

One of his most memorable mosts was a walk-off grand slam against the San Francisco Giants. He was a fantastic addition to the team and even re-signed in the offseason to fill the same valuable utility role. But an Achilles injury ruled him out for the season which was a hammer blow.

The prospect they had to give up in the deal, McKenzie Mills, was having a nice season for the Hagerstown Suns. In 2018, he continues to have a solid year in High-A with a 3.71 ERA and about a strikeout an inning.

Overall, it could be considered a win-win for both teams so far, as the Phillies signed Kendrick purely to flip him at the deadline. The Nationals took advantage of the situation and got a fantastic veteran utility player.

5 – Washington Nationals acquire Mark Melancon (2016)

In a familiar theme for the Washington Nationals, they were creeping towards the MLB Trade Deadline with bullpen issues. They managed to help address them with the acquisition of Mark Melancon.

Between 2013 and 2015 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the right-handed reliever was one of the best around. He had a 1.85 ERA over those three seasons, with 100 saves and a 200 ERA+.

In 2016, Melancon was in the last year of his contract and had been to his third All-Star Game in four years. Then the Nationals came calling to help lock down the ninth inning moving forward.

While the season ended in familiar fashion with an NLDS loss, it was no fault of Melancon’s. With the Nationals, he posted a 1.82 ERA, giving up runs in 5 of his 30 appearances and converting 17 of 18 save opportunities.

However, the trade was only a rental, and the players that have gone back to the Pirates have been impressive performers for them. While the Nats would almost certainly do the trade again, it’s hard not to look at their success.

Felipe Vazquez, formerly Felipe Rivero, has been near dominant since joining the Buccos. He’s put up a 2.38 ERA, with 40 saves and finally harnessed the raw talent that had been on display with the Nats.

The lesser-known Taylor Hearn has progressed a huge amount in the Pirates farm system. At the time of writing, with the Double-A Altoona Curve, Hearn possessed 3.12 ERA and .198 batting average against.

Both of these guys are going to be great Pirates for a while and may make Nats fans think twice about the trade. But Melancon was exactly what the team needed at that point, the team just couldn’t get over the hump that season.

4 – Texas Rangers deal Tanner Roark to the Nationals (2010)

At the time, the Washington Nationals didn’t seem to be getting much in return for former All-Star second baseman Cristian Guzman. But as it turns out, Tanner Roark was an absolute steal.

Guzman had been with the Nationals for five and a half years after coming to the nation’s capital during free agency back in 2005. He batted .282 during his time in D.C. and while he was a solid veteran presence in the lineup, he was never a true star, as evidenced by his 85 wRC+.

But, he does still have a couple pieces of Nationals history. He recorded the first ever hit at the new Nationals Park on March 20, 2008, off of Tim Hudson.

He also hit for the cycle August 28, 2008, against the LA Dodgers. This was the second cycle in Nationals history and was the latest cycle until Trea Turner achieved the feat at Coors Field in 2017.

However, Guzman’s contract was expiring after the 2010 season, and with the Nats still not competing, they fielded trade offers. They’re glad they did.

Ryan Tatusko was initially seen as the better prospect in the deal. At the time, he had a 2.97 ERA and pitched to a 1.72 ERA in Double-A with the Nats the rest of the way. But then the wheels came off, as he struggled to keep an ERA under four for the rest of his career and never cracked the major leagues.

Tanner Roark, on the other hand, went from strength to strength within the organization. He ended up making his major league debut in 2013 after going 9-3 with a 3.15 ERA in Triple-A with the Syracuse Chiefs.

Initially pitching out of the bullpen, he had a 4-0 record and 1.19 ERA and earned himself a few starts down the stretch. Ever since then, he’s been a steady presence in the rotation aside from 2015 when he was bumped from the rotation by new acquisition Max Scherzer.

Even though he’s been far from an ace, getting several years of a solid mid-to-lower tier starter for half a season of Guzman is some pretty good business.

3 – Washington Nationals get Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson (2017)

Although this deal was done only a year ago, it’s likely already the Washington Nationals best buy at the trade deadline. They revisited their old habit of trading with the Oakland Athletics to get Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.

Doolittle has gone on to be a huge fan favorite in D.C. with his performances on the field as well as being an incredible influence off the field.

In 88 games with the Nationals, the left-hander has a 2.23 ERA and has converted 46 of his 49 save opportunities. He also made it to the All-Star Game in 2018 to cap off a fantastic first 12 months with the team.

The second acquisition in the deal, Ryan Madson, has had a very Jekyll and Hyde time with the Nats. In the second half of 2017, he was lights out. He gave up just three runs in 20 appearances and was a key piece along with Doolittle to solidify a shaky bullpen.

However, in 2018 he has been much less effective. At the time of writing, he has a 4.54 ERA and a high 1.51 WHIP. In fairness, he has only given up runs in eight of his 42 appearances, which is certainly workable.

The one knock on this trade so far is the price that they had to end up paying for the two relievers.

Blake Treinen was struggling for the Nats in 2017. Appointed the closer before the season, he quickly lost the role, posting a 5.73 ERA, with a .320 batting average against in 37.2 innings. However, since moving to Oakland, he’s thrived to the tune of a 1.48 ERA converting 40 of 48 save opportunities.

Jesus Luzardo at the time was a solid left-handed pitching prospect. But now he’s establishing himself as one of the best lefty prospects in the game. And finally, Sheldon Neuse is some nice organizational depth at Triple-A for now.

But, the Nationals in the same situation would make this trade again 10 times out of 10. The bullpen needed that addition of reliable arms, and they’ll be able to live with how the pieces going back the other way have performed.

2 – Washington Nationals bring in Michael Morse (2009)

This trade between the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners didn’t make huge waves at the time. But looking back on it, Mike Rizzo managed to get himself a steal in Michael Morse.

At the time of the deal, Ryan Langerhans was in Syracuse batting .278, with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 64 games. The Mariners got some nice outfield depth with major league experience.

However, in Seattle, Morse just seemed like the odd man out. He had Adrian Beltre blocking him at third base, but even when Beltre went down injured, they turned to Jack Hannahan instead.

Morse played a combination of first base and corner outfield for the Nationals, and as they say, the rest is history. He became an instant fan favorite with his performance on the field and personality off the field.

During his four seasons in D.C., Morse hit .294, with 67 home runs, 208 RBI with a .857 OPS. The Nats revived his career, and he looked to have put the icing on the cake in game five of the NLDS in 2012. He hit a huge home run off of Adam Wainwright in the third inning to put the Nationals 6-0 up. But we don’t need to talk about how that game ended.

After that year, they reshuffled their outfield a little by acquiring Denard Span and moving Bryce Harper to corner outfield. That left no room for the slugging right-hander, and they dealt him back to Seattle in a three-team trade that netted Blake Treinen and A.J. Cole.

On the whole, Morse had a great Nationals career and has now been spotted in the MASN broadcast booth since. And given they essentially gave up outfield depth to get him, it deserves to be this high on our list.

1 – Minnesota Twins send Wilson Ramos to D.C. (2010)

Taking home the crown in best ever Washington Nationals deadline trade is the acquisition of Wilson Ramos. It was a key trade in building the Nats team that dominated for years.

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Coming off of back-to-back 100 loss seasons, the Nationals were in full-blown rebuild mode. They were looking to trade away everything that wasn’t nailed down long-term at Nats Park.

Matt Capps, who the Minnesota Twins acquired in the trade was having an All-Star campaign in the nation’s capital. He had a 2.74 ERA and was 26 of 30 in 30 save chances.

The Twins had Jon Rauch closing games at that point. He was a good reliever, but they needed a proven guy at the backend, and Capps was exactly what they needed.

Ramos, on the other hand, was an up and coming catcher in the Twins system that didn’t have the easiest route to a starting role. Joe Mauer was still getting the majority of starts at catcher back then, so it made sense for them to trade the young Venezuelan.

Eight years later The Buffalo, as he’s now affectionately known as in The District, solidified the catcher position for years with the team. Over his Nats career, he managed to post a 10.4 WAR with a .268 batting average, 83 homers, and a .744 OPS.

He also caught three Nationals no-hitters, helping Jordan Zimmerman and Max Scherzer achieve history. Ramos will forever be remembered among the D.C. baseball community for the right reasons and is more than worthy of the top spot in this list.

It will certainly be interesting to see what Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals do at this year’s trade deadline. There are arguments to buy or sell, so we’ll see which way the franchise goes.