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

By Blake Finney

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: General Manager Mike Rizzo (R) of the Washington Nationals talks to team owner Mark Lerner during batting practice before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on July 31, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: General Manager Mike Rizzo (R) of the Washington Nationals talks to team owner Mark Lerner during batting practice before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on July 31, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images) /
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Washington Nationals Austin Kearns
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /

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.

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