The Nationals have plenty of options now at Third Base

For the Washington Nationals, it has been quite some time since they have had a good, well-rounded player at the hot corner, minus the first half of 2023 with Jeimer Candelario. After Anthony Rendon departed in 2020, nothing has worked out long term for the team. Former Top Prospect Carter Kieboom couldn't handle the bright lights and rentals like Nick Senzel and Maikel Franco were both mid-season DFAs. In 2021, the Nationals selected 3B Brady House in the first round out of High School, presumably eyeing him for the future 3B job from the jump. The Nationals called up prospect Trey Lipscomb this season to be a "placeholder" until House was ready, but even he has underperformed.

At this Trade Deadline, Mike Rizzo finally decided to address the position and traded for three players who can all play 3B, and who are having MiLB success in 2024. While none are top tier prospects, they each at the very least provide options and depth at a spot that has been a positional black hole for years now.

Rizzo first traded RHP Hunter Harvey to the Royals for 3B Cayden Wallace, who at the time was Kansas City's #2 overall prospect. Wallace began the season at Double-AA and has hit .280 with 3 homers and 18 RBI. However, Wallace was shut down in June with an injury, and during rehab suffered a rib injury as well. Wallace is currently on the Injured List and has not yet reported to Double-AA Harrisburg.

On Monday, one day before the deadline, the Nationals traded OF Lane Thomas for two prospects and 3B José Tena from the Cleveland Guardians. Tena is the lone 3B acquired that has been on a big league team and can also play Shortstop. At Triple-AAA, Tena has hit .294 with 17 homers and 63 RBI. At the big league level, Tena is 7-35 with 2 XBH. When acquired, Tena was immediately added to the 40-man roster and sent to Triple-AAA Rochester.

At the buzzer, Rizzo acquired 3B Andres Chaparro from the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Dylan Floro. Chaparro has the opportunity to be the steal of the deadline. In 94 games, Chaparro is hitting .332 with 19 homers and 75 RBI, including a .967 OPS. Chaparro is expected to report to Triple-AAA Rochester.

Now, Mike Rizzo and the Nationals have at least five options for the future, as all players are under the age of 25. Brady House is still the top guy and unless something catastrophic happens, will be the future 3B. He is already in AAA and could break camp with the team next season. But until then, there are now more than a couple stopgap options that may end up being more diamonds in the rough for the club. The Nationals could call up Jose Tena and move Trey Lipscomb to 1B, and DH Juan Yepez, if they don't do a straight swap with Lipscomb outright, who has really struggled this season. Alternatively, the Nationals could keep Lipscomb at 3B and call up Chaparro or Tena to play 1B or have them DH or Platoon with Harold Ramirez. Yepez is not going anywhere for the time being, but they could utilize the DH spot to their advantage in order to put their best defense out on the field.

And of course the obligatory mention is 3B Carter Kieboom. Kieboom was outrighted and removed from the 40-man before the season and has been with Rochester all year. Kieboom is hitting .262 with 5 homers and 31 RBI and with all of these trades, has been seemingly pushed to the side by the organization. Rizzo still has Kieboom as an option, but I expect him to be moved positionally or even released very soon. Not to mention, 3B Yohandy Morales is also at Double-AA Harrisburg but is rehabbing after having thumb surgery.

Mike Rizzo and the Nationals went from having zero options and playing the waiting game to having multiple options and an overload of power and potential at the third base position. It might take some trial and error to find out to see who the best option is, but at the very least we have options now.