Washington Nationals: Seven players that could be traded away

Wilmer Difo

A little bit like Michael Taylor who was mentioned earlier in this list, Wilmer Difo also suffered a slump after seemingly breaking out in 2018. Now he could also find himself on the trade block under the right circumstances.

In 124 games in 2017, filling in all over the field, Difo hit .271 with a .690 OPS and 10 stolen bases while playing good defense. While the defense stayed, his batting average dropped to .230 and his OPS dipped to .649 after playing 148 games in 2018.

More from District on Deck

• Latest DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code in Maryland: Bet $5, Win $200 Guaranteed
• Nationals Claim Jeter Downs Off Waivers
• Washington Nationals Minor League Spotlight: Robert Hassell III
• Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
• 3 Free Agents the Nationals Should Gamble On

As of right now, the versatile infielder is expected to platoon with veteran Howie Kendrick at second base to start the season. The veteran Kendrick beat out Difo for the initial starting job while the team waited for Daniel Murphy to return, but further injuries gave Difo a chance in the lineup.

However, it’s pretty conceivable that the Nats will look to upgrade at second base if possible, which is where trading Difo makes some sense. That would allow Kendrick to fill a bench bat role that he’s thrived in for the organization while providing the potential to add another dangerous bat to the lineup at the keystone.

We’ve previously suggested that the New York Yankees could be a potential fit for Difo, given the injury to Didi Gregorius. That would allow him to slot in as a temporary starter until Gregorius returns to full health, before sliding back into a bench role that he’s best suited to.

After an extremely disappointing 2018 season, expect the Washington Nationals to attack this winter’s market aggressively. Make no mistake, that does include potentially trading away some good young players or shifting the dead weight.