Trade Thread

[Slateman]

We don't need a trade.  I am beginning to believe that this team as currently composed is well-constructed to seriously compete for a championship.  Should they make a trade that would *guarantee* it?  I think not, not if we have to give up valuable prospects, and also, because there is no such thing as a guarantee.

Yes, they should. It's pretty obvious they're not better than the Cubs. Probably not going to be better than the Giants. They need to figure out how to get better. If that means dumping Revere and moving Harper to CF to make room for a corner outfield bat, so be it. If that means giving up a lot to get a premium closer and DFAing Papelbon, do it.

The window is rapidly closing for this team to make a deep playoff run.

[Ray D]

We're not better than the Cubs, they're the best team in baseball; but we're playing them pretty even and that's good enough for me.  If we start to lose ground during the next six week then start thinking about a trade.  No point trading now, with a five game lead.  Now is the time to let Revere work his way back to his old form - now, while we're winning. So there's no place to put anyone.

The window closes much more rapidly if we trade away prospects.

[NJ Ave]

Do you become better than the Cubs, no matter what trade(s) you make? Likely not, right? And I don't know that I agree our window is closing. We seem to have a lot of good young talent with more on the way.

[houston-nat]

Do you become better than the Cubs, no matter what trade(s) you make? Likely not, right? And I don't know that I agree our window is closing. We seem to have a lot of good young talent with more on the way.

I agree with both parts of this post. We're OK on the window.

But as I said somewhere else, the 2016 Cubs might be the 2016 GS Warriors, and that might make us the Spurs/Thunder. But the Spurs/Thunder were really great teams too.

[skippy1999]

I agree with both parts of this post. We're OK on the window.

But as I said somewhere else, the 2016 Cubs might be the 2016 GS Warriors, and that might make us the Spurs/Thunder. But the Spurs/Thunder were really great teams too.

How often in baseball does a team lead from the get-go and end up winning it all? I really can't remember a team recently who's done that, seems like a surprise team kind of gets hot towards the end and that carries them through. I'm not ready to crown the Cubbies until they actually win something, there's still a lot of baseball left to be played. 

[houston-nat]

How often in baseball does a team lead from the get-go and end up winning it all? I really can't remember a team recently who's done that, seems like a surprise team kind of gets hot towards the end and that carries them through. I'm not ready to crown the Cubbies until they actually win something, there's still a lot of baseball left to be played. 

The baseball playoffs are way more random than other sports, too...like the 2001 Mariners losing in the ALDS, or 2012 us losing in the ALDS...

[Optics]

How often in baseball does a team lead from the get-go and end up winning it all? I really can't remember a team recently who's done that, seems like a surprise team kind of gets hot towards the end and that carries them through. I'm not ready to crown the Cubbies until they actually win something, there's still a lot of baseball left to be played.

The Royals pretty much went wire to wire last year but they weren't a dominant team by any stretch. Best team in the AL sure but they had a streak where they lost like 7 in a row or something at one point and went out and traded for Cueto.

I'd like to make a trade for another BIG bat and/or another lockdown reliever but I'm not giving up Turner or Giolito either. Anyone else is fair game though.

[whytev]

We don't need a trade.  I am beginning to believe that this team as currently composed is well-constructed to seriously compete for a championship.  Should they make a trade that would *guarantee* it?  I think not, not if we have to give up valuable prospects, and also, because there is no such thing as a guarantee.

At this point I agree with you on the position players, barring injury.

I would still like a bullpen arm.

[Smithian]

Yes, they should. It's pretty obvious they're not better than the Cubs. Probably not going to be better than the Giants. They need to figure out how to get better. If that means dumping Revere and moving Harper to CF to make room for a corner outfield bat, so be it. If that means giving up a lot to get a premium closer and DFAing Papelbon, do it.

The window is rapidly closing for this team to make a deep playoff run.

Baseball playoffs are a crapshoot. As long as we are starting Strasburg and Scherzer at the top of the rotation I like our chances in any series.

And how is the Nationals window closing? Pitching alone will make the Nats contenders for a while. Scherzer and Strasburg give us an elite top of the rotation into the 2020's and behind them we have a really exciting collection of proven and high potential arms in Joe Ross, Tanner Roark, and Lucas Giolito along with prospects like Voth, Lopez, and Fedde.

Bryce Harper is signed through 2018 at least. Anthony Rendon, who's been scorching for over a month, is the type of player who will be in MVP consideration when he stays healthy. Daniel Murphy will never hit .400 but will be a good hitter for a while. Trea Turner profiles as a pretty good leadoff hitter. Nationals have four guys in the minors who profile to play in center, so hopefully one will make it. You see teams every season shopping big corner outfield bats so next season before 2018 you'll see Werth replaced by a big bat. Zimm is Zimm. We'll see what happens at catcher.

This franchise should be pretty solid for a while.

[Smithian]

We don't need a trade.  I am beginning to believe that this team as currently composed is well-constructed to seriously compete for a championship.  Should they make a trade that would *guarantee* it?  I think not, not if we have to give up valuable prospects, and also, because there is no such thing as a guarantee.

I think this team is built to win now and in the future. I could see a pitcher brought in after the waiver deadline if Joe Ross has innings limits.

For the lineup the only major trade I can see happening is if the Nats go find a big left field bat and turn Werth into the fourth out fielder, with Harper subbing in center, and the designated pinch hitter. I don't think that happens but every other position is pretty locked down other than center where the Nats are pretty stocked with prospects and Revere is heating up.

[houston-nat]

This franchise should be pretty solid for a while.

I think the outlook for 2017-18 is pretty great. After that, there's obviously the Big Harper Question. Going forward and looking at the minors, the only other real issues I see are finding a catcher to replace Ramos, maybe trading for a big bat OF as Werth leaves (that free agent market is pretty weak-looking), and making sure that guys like Giolito develop well.

[BrandonK]

I think the outlook for 2017-18 is pretty great. After that, there's obviously the Big Harper Question. Going forward and looking at the minors, the only other real issues I see are finding a catcher to replace Ramos, maybe trading for a big bat OF as Werth leaves (that free agent market is pretty weak-looking), and making sure that guys like Giolito develop well.

I'm less optimistic, honestly. C - who knows if Ramos resigns. There's nothing available to be a viable starter next year in the system
1B - stuck with Zim, and he's toast. No hope there
2B - Murphdawg's due a regression, but his approach should keep him as a clog
SS - I don't care.
3B - Tony's turned the corner. Hope he stays healthy, and can get back to being .280+/20 HR guy again. Glove is still great
LF - Ugh.
CF - Ugh.
RF - Re-sign Harper

SP - Max, Stras, Giolito, Ross. Solid.
RP - less predictable year-to-year, but there's some really solid arms in the system right now.

If there's a move to be had, I'm looking for something next year too. Hope it's an OF bat still.

[BrandonK]

Reddick is still my choice (after he comes back from the DL) and hopefully can be signed to a decent deal. If not him, CarGo

[whytev]

I think this team is built to win now and in the future. I could see a pitcher brought in after the waiver deadline if Joe Ross has innings limits.

For the lineup the only major trade I can see happening is if the Nats go find a big left field bat and turn Werth into the fourth out fielder, with Harper subbing in center, and the designated pinch hitter. I don't think that happens but every other position is pretty locked down other than center where the Nats are pretty stocked with prospects and Revere is heating up.

I want that LF bat to be able to play 1B too. Just in case.

Ross' replacement should be Giolito.

[Monarch]

I want that LF bat to be able to play 1B too. Just in case.

Ross' replacement should be Giolito.

who should Gio G's replacement be? I'm at the point where his starts are pretty much losses at this point. I get that he was good except one inning last night....
he's given up 10BB, 35H and 24 ER in his last 29IP. 41K's are nice though.

[whytev]

who should Gio G's replacement be? I'm at the point where his starts are pretty much losses at this point. I get that he was good except one inning last night....
he's given up 10BB, 35H and 24 ER in his last 29IP. 41K's are nice though.

He was good except one inning the last two games. If we'd won both 5-3 nobody would be talking about this.

Gio is fine. He's just going lower and lower in the order as others out-pitch him. If he gets pitched into the bullpen by the playoffs, great.

[Monarch]

He was good except one inning the last two games. If we'd won both 5-3 nobody would be talking about this.

Gio is fine. He's just going lower and lower in the order as others out-pitch him. If he gets pitched into the bullpen by the playoffs, great.

I disagree. he was garbage for three starts, had bad innings in the next two and we lost all 5 games.

[BrandonK]

Current pecking order for spot starts would be:

Jordan (injured currently)
Cole
Erik Davis

Any period of time:

Voth
Giolito

[DPMOmaha]

who should Gio G's replacement be? I'm at the point where his starts are pretty much losses at this point. I get that he was good except one inning last night....
he's given up 10BB, 35H and 24 ER in his last 29IP. 41K's are nice though.

It's not at all that dire. He had a rough 3 game stretch. His last two have been perfectly fine. If he keeps putting those performances up, we'll be just fine.

[madj55]

Current pecking order for spot starts would be:

Jordan (injured currently)
Cole
Erik Davis

Any period of time:

Voth
Giolito

Isn't Jordan getting his second TJ?

[Matugi]

Current pecking order for spot starts would be:

Jordan (injured currently)
Cole
Erik Davis

Any period of time:

Voth
Giolito

I think Cole starts the year as the place holder transition to Giolito in May.

[raleighnat]

I see no move except for a BP arm unless someone gets hurt.  But we need to move on a closer.  Miller would be awesome, but we don't need to go that all out.  Who are some other good bullpen arms that wouldn't require hammering us on prospects?  I could see us giving up one quality minor league like Fedde for someone solid to close out games.  Have no faith in Papelbon. 

Another idea would be to bring Glover up or convert a starter.  Let's say we bring Voth or Giolito up at some point....wonder what Giolito or Ross could do out of the pen throwing max effort in one inning stints.  I'll never forget Jzimm's velocity in the 2012 NLDS when he came in, let it fly and struck out the side.

[BrandonK]

Isn't Jordan getting his second TJ?

Got my Taylors mixed up. Yup. Surprised he's still on the 40-man and not the 60-day DL.

[varoadking]

I disagree. he was garbage for three starts, had bad innings in the next two and we lost all 5 games.

Agreed...Gio is anything but "fine."  He's a complete mess...

[spidernat]

I'm one of Diet Pills' biggest critics but he wasn't the reason we lost the game last night. He's had 4 disastrous starts this season but in the other games he's given us a chance to stay in games and pick up wins but the rest of the team failed to hold up its end.