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Washington Nationals: Three Possible Trade Targets

By Matt Holleran

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Sean Doolittle #63 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on June 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 04: Sean Doolittle #63 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on June 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

2.  LHP Jake Diekman—Kansas City Royals

The before mentioned Giles would be a splashy move for the Nationals, but LHP Jake Diekman may be a more realistic under-the-radar trade target. Diekman has been in the major leagues for eight seasons now and has bounced around to four different teams. Last season, Diekman was dealt from the Texas Rangers to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and it was detrimental to his success.

In Arizona, in 24 games Diekman posted a 7.53 E.R.A. and gave up 15 runs in 14.1 innings. He also walked eight batters, and clearly was just not the same guy he was in Arlington before the trade. In the offseason, Diekman signed a deal with the Kansas City Royals and has had a very solid start to his 2019 season. In 29 games Diekman has recorded a 4.26 E.R.A. but has struck out 37 batters in just 25 innings of work.

Throughout his career, Diekman has always been good at missing bats and has only averaged less than 10 strikeouts per nine innings one time in his career. If Washington wants to make a serious postseason run and succeed if they somehow make the playoffs, they need better left-handed relief arms than Tony Sipp and Matt Grace.

Diekman would be a perfect hard-throwing lefty to come in and immediately take over the lefty-specialist role in the Washington bullpen. Although he does struggle with his command at times, the left-hander does miss batts, which is something Sipp and Grace have been unable to do. With the Royals tied for the worst record in all of baseball at 19-41, they are clearly going to be in all-out sell mode at this years’ trade deadline.

Diekman is on a one year deal with a $5.7 million dollar mutual option for the 2020 season. He would only come with half a year of commitment left for the Nationals, and would not cost them close to a top prospect. Washington may be able to throw a player like Wilmer Difo in with a low-level prospect and get a deal done for Diekman. The Nationals need a better left-handed reliever, and Diekman makes perfect sense.

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