Reality bites - Break up the 2024 Juggernaut

[JCA-CrystalCity]

San Diego is where the playoff dreams of marginal Nats teams go to die.

the difference between even a 1-2 series and a 3 game sweep is the difference between being 1.5 games behind the Padres in the standings and 3.5. instead of 2 games under at 39-41, we are 4 games under at 38-42.

[Slateman]

the difference between even a 1-2 series and a 3 game sweep is the difference between being 1.5 games behind the Padres in the standings and 3.5. instead of 2 games under at 39-41, we are 4 games under at 38-42.

Yep. That was a meaningful series and we needed to win one of those games. The bullpen blowing game 1 and the immaturity in Game 2 effectively ended our season

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I’m never rooting against our team, but the silver lining to a series like that is it can make it more apparent to sell.

[nobleisthyname]

I’m never rooting against our team, but the silver lining to a series like that is it can make it more apparent to sell.

This is how I feel. My fantasy world is the Nats sell everyone (maybe even a Luis García Jr.) to increase the farm system depth and have Wood and Crews come up and immediately play well enough that the Nats stay in playoff contention through September. Best of both worlds as the team still gets experience playing in meaningful games.

[Slateman]

What kind of return do we take for Harvey or Thomas?

Am I nuts that I would take Braxton Ashcraft for Lane Thomas (and maybe a Dylan Floro?)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

You think the Pirates would be looking for an upgrade?

[Slateman]

You think the Pirates would be looking for an upgrade?

I think Lane Thomas is the kind of player they would be looking for. Reynolds spends his days mostly in LF. Lane is an upgrade in RF, is affordable, and under team control next year.

Would be willing to "sweeten" the pot with Dylan Floro, or include Finnegan for a lower level prospect (Hunter Barco?)

[welch]

What is special about Ashcraft that makes him worth Lane Thomas?

[Slateman]

What is special about Ashcraft that makes him worth Lane Thomas?

He has potential to be a middle of the rotation arm.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

What is special about Ashcraft that makes him worth Lane Thomas?

he's #5 / #6 in the Pirates system, which has been producing some nice starters. Just outside the top 100, I think. Performing well in the high minors.

[Slateman]

What kind of return would you need to trade Jacob Young this deadline (or in the offseason)?

Not saying that I want to get rid of him, but it seems pretty clear that unless they trade Lane, he's out of a job by this time next year. Even if Wood becomes a platoon bat, the Nats will at least give him a full season to figure that out. At that point, Lane will be gone one way or another, but you could have a situation where Hassell is hitting and ready to be bumped up.

Young is clearly good enough to start. What would it take from a team like Pittsburgh to get us to move him? Maybe as part of a package that includes Floro and Winker? Would that be enough to get Bubba Chandler? Would we be willing to give that up for Ashcraft and Harrington?

This wouldn't preclude trading Lane Thomas. He will still generate some interest. Maybe package him with Kyle to the Orioles for Connor Norby and a couple lower pitching prospects (Baumeister, Johnson, Forret, or De Leon).

You could play Norby in LF if you want. You could also trade Garcia in the offseason (or at the deadline, like I've previously said) and play Norby at 2B. He kind of reminds me of Daniel Murphy. If you do this, you've built up enough pitching depth that Rizzo could forgo a big time starting pitcher in lieu of signing a big bat, like Kyle Tucker or Juan Soto. Which, honestly, makes us a WC team contender and, frankly, I think puts us in line for the division next year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Of the potential centerfielders, Young could bring a good return and let Crews or Wood play their natural position. I think at least one of Winker or Thomas is gone this deadline, so I don't think "where do you play Thomas" matters.

[Senatorswin]

Thomas is a good placeholder but I don't think anything more. At the start of next year I would want Wood in right, Young in center and Crews in left. As a callup I'd like to see Lile get a shot as the 4th outfielder. He has limited power but can hit the occasional home run. He knows how to get on base with good OBP in the minors. He has speed which would come in handy with the style the Nats play. He would fit in with that outfield.

[Slateman]

Thomas is a good placeholder but I don't think anything more. At the start of next year I would want Wood in right, Young in center and Crews in left. As a callup I'd like to see Lile get a shot as the 4th outfielder. He has limited power but can hit the occasional home run. He knows how to get on base with good OBP in the minors. He has speed which would come in handy with the style the Nats play. He would fit in with that outfield.

I think Lile is a couple years away.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I don't mind having a corner OF position opened up if there were a good offer for Young. You can plan on Wood and Crews, and find a corner OF free agent while you hope Hassell Lile or Pinckney makes it. Just in terms of holes, you could see Wood Young Crews for a while. If you move Young, it has to fill a pressing hole.

[Senatorswin]

I think Lile is a couple years away.

He recently moved up to AA so he could come up some time next year. The Nats site projection has him coming up next year for what's that worth.

[Slateman]

regardless of the Soto/ Kyle Tucker discussion, in no way should this team "wait a couple of years" for free agents. Not at this stage of the development cycle if you are trying to contend with Gore, Abrams (and Garcia). The 2025 team will have 5 positions filled by either elite prospects (Wood, Crews) or young veterans (abrams, Garcia, Young).  DH is slotted for Lane unless he's traded. Sign or deal for a bat like O'Hearn, and live with Senzel / Lipscomb / Vargas until House is ready. He would already upgrade the D, so it is just a question of hitting progress for him. There's a decent rotation core of Gore, Irvin, and Parker, with multiple internal candidates for shots at the back end. More or less, it's 1 hitter and a front end starter, before considering what you can get in trade.

So my fault, Tucker isn't a free agent until 2026. Soto, Bregman, Alonso, Adames, Walker, and probably Bellinger are the top hitting free agents this offseason.

[Smithian]

Barring a big hot streak, guys like Winker, Finnegan, Vargas are all available. There isn't enough for a "fire sale" but 7 games under with under a month before deadline should be a clarifying moment

[IanRubbish]

There isn't enough for a "fire sale" but 7 games under with under a month before deadline should be a clarifying moment

Rizzo said this is all part of the plan for 8-10 years of a "championship cycle", even though in the best of circumstances today's top young players are gone in free agency after six years.  The rot begins with Mini Me, his spiritually dead family, and desperate Rizzo saying what he has to in order to keep his job working for these turds.   Trade whoever you want, this franchise might pull together one or two winning seasons in the next five if everything goes all right.