What to trade?

[Greg_SRT]

We need a 2nd baseman with a bat.

Murph's days as a National maybe numbered. His days as a 2nd baseman seem to be over. His future is at 1st base. Zimm and Adams on the bench. Soto, Eaton, Harper are Outfielders. Rendon at 3rd. Turner at SS. I want Difo in the lineup. But we need a hitting catcher. And that seems to be hard to come by.

So my idea is this...

Harper or Difo conversion at Catcher. They have the arm. See what happens.

Trade for either Gennett or Lowrie.

It's getting late into the season. And this lineup isn't producing. You can say the lineup on paper is a contender.

Are you willing to put all your eggs in the Zimmerman basket?

We've got guys back that were supposed to solve the offensive problems. But the offensive problems are still here. If this season is the season and they need to go for it, offer a prospect package with pitchers for Gennett and see where we are. We have the rotation, the bullpen, and most of the lineup.

But right now, this isn't a playoff team. This is an offensive struggling team.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Greg - the idea of Realmuto and Castro makes a lot of sense if Castro's contract knocks the price down to the tier below Soto/ robles / Kieboom/ Antuna and Luis Garcia.  I'd be willing to put in one of Crowe, Fedde, or Rodriguez if it closes the deal.

[Greg_SRT]

My understanding is the Nationals don’t want to spend a bunch of money. I assume Miami is out of the question.

[Slateman]

Harper or Difo conversion at Catcher. They have the arm. See what happens.

I stopped right there. I mean .... do you actually understand how difficult it is to play catcher at the MLB level? How much goes into learning to call a game?

Legitimately, it would be easier for Harper to become a closer at this point, than a catcher.

[Slateman]

Greg - the idea of Realmuto and Castro makes a lot of sense if Castro's contract knocks the price down to the tier below Soto/ robles / Kieboom/ Antuna and Luis Garcia.  I'd be willing to put in one of Crowe, Fedde, or Rodriguez if it closes the deal.

Why do people keep talking about Castro's deal like it's some sort of albatross? It's basically the remainder of this year's 10 million, next year's 11 million, and a 1 million buyout if you don't want him after that. I mean, that' snot great, but it's not horrid either. It's certainly not enough to make Kieboom, Antuna, or Luis Garcia untouchable.

[spidernat]

So my idea is this...

Harper or Difo conversion at Catcher. They have the arm. See what happens.

  Someone is in dire need of a warm hug.

[Slateman]

  Someone is in dire need of a warm hug.

Cmon Spider, what's the worst that could happen? We need a starting pitcher too. Let's let Matt Adams try it out. He pitched in Little League

[Greg_SRT]

Doesn’t Harper have catcher experience? I’m not trying to say the translation would be easy.

[Slateman]

Doesn’t Harper have catcher experience? I’m not trying to say the translation would be easy.

In freaking high school.

[spidernat]

Doesn’t Harper have catcher experience? I’m not trying to say the translation would be easy.

It wouldn't be easy at all. And to try to do in midseason! You think Harper is struggling right now (and people seem to think he's already mentally fragile) this would send him into Danny Espinosa territory.

[tomterp]

We need a 2nd baseman with a bat.

Murph's days as a National maybe numbered. His days as a 2nd baseman seem to be over.

I hear Jose Vidro's been working out.

[tomterp]

In freaking high school.

And at the College of Southern Nevada.  And while we are finding positions for Bryce, he also pitched an inning, giving up only 1 unearned run. 

[Greg_SRT]

Look, I know it sounds out there. He was drafted as a catcher right?

What sounds crazier? Seeing if Harper (drafted as a catcher) can be behind home plate again OR trading away your top prospects for JT? Knowing that a good number of your roster including Harper could walk after the season. A trade for JT at right now asking price will cripple the next few years if we do have Harper and a few walk.

We have guys on the roster right now that can fill Harper's spot if he went behind home plate.

[tomterp]

Look, I know it sounds out there. He was drafted as a catcher right?

What sounds crazier? Seeing if Harper (drafted as a catcher) can be behind home plate again OR trading away your top prospects for JT? Knowing that a good number of your roster including Harper could walk after the season. A trade for JT at right now asking price will cripple the next few years if we do have Harper and a few walk.

We have guys on the roster right now that can fill Harper's spot if he went behind home plate.

No, it was always expected that he'd be switched to outfield so his career contributions at the plate could be maximized. 

[spidernat]

Can I ask forum members to give Greg a warm hug to see if it will help him regain his sanity?

[Greg_SRT]

Insane would be trading the guys necessary to get JT at the asking price currently. I guess it's possible that Rizzo does wizardry.

But we ain't exactly oozing top prospects. Robles and Soto seem legit. Fedde is a #3 at best. Kieboom is years away it seems. And then you have a butt ton of projects that don't seem to be close even if you had 3 wishes you could wish.

Gennett and Lowrie could be gotten without giving up Fedde, Robles, or Soto. JT doesn't seem to be. Gennett gives us years.

[bluestreak]

Look, I know it sounds out there. He was drafted as a catcher right?

What sounds crazier? Seeing if Harper (drafted as a catcher) can be behind home plate again OR trading away your top prospects for JT? Knowing that a good number of your roster including Harper could walk after the season. A trade for JT at right now asking price will cripple the next few years if we do have Harper and a few walk.

We have guys on the roster right now that can fill Harper's spot if he went behind home plate.

Even if you wanted to pursue this insanity, and even if Bryce agreed to it, I imagine this is a transition best attempted in the offseason. Plus we have no idea whether or not he would be good anymore, whether he is an adequate framer, his ability to call a major league game, all things that come with catching on a regular basis.
Plus there is a reason most catchers aren't great at the plate. It's taxing and hard on your body and makes it hard to concentrate on hitting. If we think Bryce's issues are mainly in his head, I don't think the pressure of learning how to catch again would help him get it going at the plate.

I can see using him as an emergency catcher in a postseason game if an injury occurred, but that's it. 

Any exec or coach who seriously sugested Bryce being a regular catcher probably should be fired on the spot.

[Greg_SRT]

Even if you wanted to pursue this insanity, and even if Bryce agreed to it, I imagine this is a transition best attempted in the offseason. Plus we have no idea whether or not he would be good anymore, whether he is an adequate framer, his ability to call a major league game, all things that come with catching on a regular basis.
Plus there is a reason most catchers aren't great at the plate. It's taxing and hard on your body and makes it hard to concentrate on hitting. If we think Bryce's issues are mainly in his head, I don't think the pressure of learning how to catch again would help him get it going at the plate.

I can see using him as an emergency catcher in a postseason game if an injury occurred, but that's it. 

Any exec or coach who seriously sugested Bryce being a regular catcher probably should be fired on the spot.

You ain't asking him to do it permanently

[Glockypoo]

Difo conversion at Catcher

I'm dead.

[Monarch]

Either all this rain or all this humidity is getting to some people.

[Greg_SRT]

I'm dead.

We all are if we seriously think from end of March until now this offense looks playoff bound.

[spidernat]

I'm dead.

In all the talk about moving Harper to catcher, the idea of moving Difo there got overlooked.

[Greg_SRT]

In all the talk about moving Harper to catcher, the idea of moving Difo there got overlooked.

It really did.

So I took my daughter to her camp today and hit Giant afterwards. Wearing my Nationals hat, red cap blue brim.

I was stopped in the aisle by a Phillies fan. He said to me the Nats should move Harper to catcher since that's where they wanted him when they got him (lolz on multiple levels) and get a good replacement in RF.

I said if they would more likely get a CF and put Eaton there if they did. I wasn't gonna break down how silly his ideas are.

But I decided to post it and have some fun. Added my own spices like Difo because I do want to see Difo in the lineup.

P.S. I do honestly feel it would be a mistake to give up a kings ransom for JT. No troll there.

[spidernat]

So you're walking that one back? At least you cast the blame on dumb ass phillie fans. (nice touch to throw in your little girl to add credibility to your story )

[Truconfidence]

Insane would be trading the guys necessary to get JT at the asking price currently. I guess it's possible that Rizzo does wizardry.

But we ain't exactly oozing top prospects. Robles and Soto seem legit. Fedde is a #3 at best. Kieboom is years away it seems. And then you have a butt ton of projects that don't seem to be close even if you had 3 wishes you could wish.

Gennett and Lowrie could be gotten without giving up Fedde, Robles, or Soto. JT doesn't seem to be. Gennett gives us years.

Kieboom is not as far away as you make it seem. 2020 is a real possibility. he is killing high A now. I wouldnt want to give him up because he seems like he is a real 30HR power threat.