Washington Nationals Trade Deadline Preview and Predictions
4. Prediction Time: What will the Nationals do at the 2019 deadline?
Ross– The Nationals will not make any trades at the deadline. In the event of a trade, it will be for an extremely cheap rental player. Mike Rizzo has had four months to fix the bullpen. Of all the months to start that process, July seems like the worst choice considering the rest of the league knows just how desperate the team is for relief pitching help.
Tom– Acquire a top-tier right-handed setup man and mid-tier situational left-handed reliever to make up for the ineffectiveness of Matt Grace and Tony Sipp. I also wouldn’t discount the possibility of a fifth starter being acquired, possibly packaged with one of the two relievers.
Monty– The Nationals will acquire two bullpen arms that may or may not be what is needed. I’d like to see them acquire some rentals for cheap, but I’m not sure that’s even viable giving the demand for relievers. I think the Nats will end up bringing in Ken Giles from the Toronto Blue Jays and Jake Diekman from the Kansas City Royals. Sean Doolittle will remain as the closer while the other two and Fernando Rodney work as the high leverage relievers down the stretch. There’s an outside chance the Nats acquire a cheap fifth starter option as well.
Danny– The Nationals need to make a splash and acquire two good bullpen arms. The problem is, their farm system isn’t very deep, so Mike Rizzo may have to try to get creative. It’s possible that we see Michael A. Taylor moved in a trade for a reliever. Since the farm system isn’t great, Rizzo may not be able to shop at the top end of the relief market unless he’s willing to deal Garcia, Crowe or Cate. The Giants will likely ask for one of those three in return for Will Smith, which is a steep price for a rental. I think in the end, the Nationals end up with Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson. With that being said, one team to keep an eye on is the Reds. Rizzo has long liked Cincinnati closer, Raisel Iglesias, and the Reds are fading as of late. If the Reds decide to sell, Iglesias, along with fellow Reds reliever, Jared Hughes could become targets.
Matt– All along I have believed that Alex Colome was the guy the Nationals would end up with at the deadline, but a week before I am changing my tune. With the lack of resources to trade, Mike Rizzo can’t afford to wait and let the market determine the price of relievers. I believe Rizzo will be aggressive and set the market with a deal for Detriot Tigers closer Shane Greene. Kieboom won’t be in the deal, but a name to look out for in potential deals for bullpen help is a current member of the bullpen Wander Suero. The big right-hander is extremely talented, and a team could see potential in him as the A’s did in Blake Treinen when Washington traded him for Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. Along with Greene, I believe the Nationals will acquire someone cheap to help upgrade the left-handed arms in their bullpen.