Add Matz for two or three years. Gray plus Stroman and Matz make up the core of a rotation. With luck in some of Strassburg and Corbin, the Nats can avoid dead pitchers like Fedde, and random luck like Rogers, and will not have to wait for Joe Ross to, perhaps, come around from whatever arm injury he's got. Find relief pitchers the same place the Nats always do, but not from a high-priced shiny superstar. Are there many superstar relief pitchers?
Maybe Cavalli and Henry, or Adon, all turn into the next Jordan Zimmermann. That's all a "maybe", and they are a year or two even from being rookies.
The point to baseball is to win. Not to tank every season or to "flip" players for prospects for the next five or ten years. And not to see how far below the luxury tax the Nats can get.
There are clear holes in the team, and the biggest has been third. Nobody in the minors plays third, and, finally, it is time to avoid depending on Kieboom.
Schwarber? Look at the system, again. There are no outfielders, either. Casey clonked when he got to Rochester, so he his no more a sure-thing than Kieboom or Robles.
If this is wrong, then trade Soto now. Get two players and prospects.
Thats 35 million added payroll just to hope the 34 year old, perennially injured pitcher will come back and be healthy and effectice, while the 33 year old coming off back to back career worst seasons will suddenly not suck.
Thats a terrible strategy and exactly how teams end up like the Angels.
There is nothing ready for the MLBZ level. Bite the bullet, suck for another season, develop the talent, and see what you have this season.
No one has the prospects to give you what Soto is worth. Theres no reason to think about trading hin until the 2023 deadline
