Washington Nationals: Seven players that could be traded away

While the Washington Nationals are expected to be active buyers this winter, we look at seven names who could be dealt away from the nation’s capital.

The Washington Nationals are already preparing to fire on all cylinders this offseason, with three additions to the team before December. But we look at the other side of things by exploring seven potential options that they may choose to trade away for one reason or another.

Strangely, the Nats didn’t make a single trade last winter after yet another NLDS exit that resulted in the firing of their manager. But that seems like an exception and not the rule when it comes to the team’s winter dealings.

Since the start of 2015, during their respective offseasons, they have traded away major leaguers such as Danny Espinosa, Tyler Moore, Drew Storen, Yunel Escobar, Jerry Blevins, and Tyler Clippard. You rarely see the Nationals dealing away proven major league talent, it’s usually coming from positions of strength, or for players who just haven’t quite realized their full potential yet.

Yes, this is hardly a groundbreaking strategy, but the point is that this incarnation of the Nationals will rarely be the team that trades away their best assets to rebuild. They’re frequently the buyers in the market, and it’s been that way since their first NL East title back in 2012.

So let’s take a look at seven potential trade candidates from the Nats who may easily be wearing a different uniform on Opening Day. We start the list with a player whose stock has drastically fallen over the last year and needs a fresh start.