I would like you to expand on your thought process. What are the reasons that back up your statement.
I probably mention this comparison too much, but it reminds me a lot of the Garciaparra situation in 2004. He was playing a bit better than Harper, but it was obvious his mind was not in it. His defense was down, he missed time, and while I hate to mention RBI, for a middle of the order bat, he was way off what was expected. They traded him for some pieces they needed (Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientk . . .) that especially improved the D, and the team improved its performance. A Harper trade would be different in that it would be for prospects, but in the short term, Soto plus any two of Taylor, Robles, and Eaton would dramatically improve the defense. Offensively, it would be a question of how close Robles / Taylor can get to the offense Harper would give you. That kind of depends on your Harper expectations. They can probably get close to what he has been doing, but nowhere near peak Bryce. The teams we are chasing aren't the 2004 NYY, either. You can make a case the Nats could, maybe would, win the NL East even without Bryce and that dealing him will not worsen our likelihood of winning.