2025 MLB Trade Deadline - Rumors, pontificafions, innuendo, zdk, and deals

[Natsinpwc]

There are also trades.  Like the Phillies did for Luzardo.  Sometimes you have to get creative. 

[Smithian]

There are also trades.  Like the Phillies did for Luzardo.  Sometimes you have to get creative. 

I thought the Lowe trade was excellent. He is way overdue getting hot for a month, but for now I am sticking by that was a very good trade. But past making a move for a DH I am just not thinking about, I don't know the other move. They weren't blocking House at 3B, they bet on Abrams at SS, Garcia wasn't going to be replaced after 2024, and the OF is packed as is.

Catcher is an obvious, but if we're grumbling about offensive production out of catcher then we have bigger issues. Fangraphs shows Nats dead last in oWAR out of catcher, but OPS we're not far off average in OPS at the spot. I think Ruiz's biggest problem is they're riding him into the ground when Adams and Millas both seem to me to be perfectly adequate backup catchers.

In the rotation, I think it's possible they were too conservatives. I wonder if the right choice would have been let Williams walk, pass on Soroka, than they have ~$25 million to go and find a better mid-rotation pitcher.

If the Nationals have a good stretch and approach the deadline not in a position to blow it up, I'm wanting them to get a backup C they trust and more middle inning arms. Both attainable. I don't see them taking a big swing at DH when Wood may need to go there and rotation-wise probably still like their overall options.

[Mattionals]

Listening to a recent national podcast about what the O’s could have done differently this offseason, I did not hear a lot of things the Nationals could have done differently. The pitching options were unappetizing or unaffordable, and this season so far hasn’t changed that. Position wise, we didn’t want to block our OF guys. Lowe was a good move, Christian Walker would have been worse. DH was a disaster, I wanted Santander but he isn’t setting world on fire.

The only real change I wish Nats had made — other than going back to being a top 5 payroll and grabbing a guy like Corbin Burnes — is making drastic moves faster in the bullpen.

Past that, we need guys on roster to start producing and for Trevor Williams to be shuffled to bullpen asap.

Outside of the cold stretches, I think we are starting to see what the team really is, at least in a few spots. Gore, Irvin, and Parker are core guys in the rotation. Gore is the closest thing we have to an ace, Irvin has some unique flashes, and Parker can hold his own. Lord is a surprising piece now I think as well. Maybe a starter, maybe a long guy, but he seems pretty good in that swing role. CJ and Wood are LOCKS in this team. I think Ruiz is showing that he can be a contact first bat, and when he is going well, he can hit for a little bit of power. Luis is probably a lock now at 2B. Crews I'm still betting on figuring it out. We've now got some guys like Young who has done this before and can be a great 9 hole hitter and defense first CF. Bobby Barrels and Daylen Lile also open up some interest in what they can bring and hopefully one of those three guys can lock down one of the outfield spots.

Our biggest needs now are the same as they've always been, but at least the next level of guys are close. 1B, I still see Lowe as a stopgap. Not sure if the guy to stick there is Wood or YoYo, but Wood could totally fit and not totally tank his value stashing him at DH. DH is a sore spot. Again, Wood can go there, but you'd ideally want someone else who is "less athletic but hits hard". 3B is probably House's to lose when he gets called up. I'm bullish on guys like Sykora and Susana fitting in maybe as early as sometime late next season.

The question is, how do we handle 1B and DH, and the last outfield spot? Then we need relief help for sure.

[imref]

If YoYo hit well at Rochester, they move Lowe and bring him up. Chaparro should replace Bell at DH, and House should be up yesterday to take over 3B. Make those moves and we have all our pieces in place. Hopefully it's 2011 rather than 2021.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

On the other hand, what could Gore get in trade? More than Crochet given the extra year and a half of control were he dealt to a 2025 contender.

It's disgusting to contemplate, but ...

[Smithian]

On the other hand, what could Gore get in trade? More than Crochet given the extra year and a half of control were he dealt to a 2025 contender.

It's disgusting to contemplate, but ...

Fair conversation before the 2027 season, but right now I think we have a core that could be ready to go for in the next couple seasons.  With the expanded playoffs and short series, you need at least one pitcher you think could win a game himself. I think Mackenzie Gore can be that guy. I want to play that out through at least the 2026 trade deadline.

[Smithian]

If YoYo hit well at Rochester, they move Lowe and bring him up. Chaparro should replace Bell at DH, and House should be up yesterday to take over 3B. Make those moves and we have all our pieces in place. Hopefully it's 2011 rather than 2021.

DFA/trade Bell for peanuts. Send Nunez down to hit every day and move around positions.

Call up House and Chaparro.

Tena/Chappy DH platoon.

If Morales keeps hitting in Rochester, you move Lowe or send Chappy back down.

Championship.

[IanRubbish]

On the other hand, what could Gore get in trade? More than Crochet given the extra year and a half of control were he dealt to a 2025 contender.

It's disgusting to contemplate, but ...

I strongly doubt it happens but I wouldn't rule out next year when he's making a lot more and he's still got 1.5 years of control left.  Problem is besides Finnegan and Lowe this year's rentals are worthless.  Soroka's going to be offered but he's too injured and inconsistent and then the rest have zero value.  They've basically run out of salaries to dump.   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I strongly doubt it happens but I wouldn't rule out next year when he's making a lot more and he's still got 1.5 years of control left.  Problem is besides Finnegan and Lowe this year's rentals are worthless.  Soroka's going to be offered but he's too injured and inconsistent and then the rest have zero value.  They've basically run out of salaries to dump.   

as Rosenthal points out, Gore is at the same distance to free agency as Soto was when he was dealt.

[Smithian]

as Rosenthal points out, Gore is at the same distance to free agency as Soto was when he was dealt.

If they flip Gore, they're saying they're not going for it in 2026 and 2027. That we're basically looking at Wood, Crews, Abrams, Parker, Garcia, Young, Irvin, all under team control and decided, "No, not worth it" and saying start over. That sort of white flag would have even me wondering what the point of all this is.

If this was 2022 and the Nationals were crap with no reasonable path to a short term rebuild, I'd get a Gore trade. Same as I "understood" the Soto trade. But the 2025 Nationals aren't the 2022 Nationals. This isn't a fiery trainwreck going quickly toward the worst record in the majors with all the organizational talent in the low minors. Nats are coming off two 71 win seasons with lots of cost controlled talent, some good pieces in the upper minors, and a Gore is a #1 pitcher who can win you a playoff games if you go for the Wild Card in 2026. Just a different world from 2022.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Petey Bienel
1:04   Ken Rosenthal observed that MacKenzie Gore is at the same distance to free agency as Juan Soto was when the Nationals dealt him, and as a Boras client, the likelihood of agreeing to an extension before free agency is low. Can you think of a comparable pitcher dealt at the deadline recently?
Jay Jaffe
1:06   Offhand i can't think of a starting pitcher in Gore's position control-wise being the headliner of a deadline trade but the comp to Soto is off base — Soto had clearly established himself among the game's elite hitters by that point and it was obvious it would take a mint to sign him. Gore is a good pitcher who may become a great one but he ain't there yet.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-5-27-25/

I can see a complete year of high end performance from Gore being needed to build trade value, but if he has strong year and the Nats aren't contending in 2026, then doing a deal.

[Smithian]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-5-27-25/

I can see a complete year of high end performance from Gore being needed to build trade value, but if he has strong year and the Nats aren't contending in 2026, then doing a deal.

It'll be a good and depressing convo if the Nats are below .500 12 months from now.

[NatsLSU]

Rizzo and Lerners will bring back Corbin to pair with Gore next season.  I really can’t stand this ownership group as it currently stands. Gives me 0 hope to build around the young talent we currently have.

[Slateman]

Rizzo and Lerners will bring back Corbin to pair with Gore next season.  I really can’t stand this ownership group as it currently stands. Gives me 0 hope to build around the young talent we currently have.

I mean ... we could use a sub 4 ERA at the back of the rotation

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Honestly, the fact we're already talking about dealing Gore just shows the state of this franchise under Mark. Its a shame what he and his siblings have done. Just sell the team and let us get competent ownership. People don't want Ted here for whatever reason but he would be 100x better than Mark. Our young players wouldn't leave and he would put money into the franchise. If he's the alternative I'm all for it. The Caps have been a model franchise for 20 years running. Give me that.

[Natsinpwc]

Honestly, the fact we're already talking about dealing Gore just shows the state of this franchise under Mark. Its a shame what he and his siblings have done. Just sell the team and let us get competent ownership. People don't want Ted here for whatever reason but he would be 100x better than Mark. Our young players wouldn't leave and he would put money into the franchise. If he's the alternative I'm all for it. The Caps have been a model franchise for 20 years running. Give me that.

But you will probably get the Wizards instead.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

But you will probably get the Wizards instead.

I mean, I'm not sure what he's supposed to do there? The NBA in general is just stupid. Its a league where a team that made the play-in game jumped to the first pick in the draft. Where your stars want to leave and go play with their buddies so you have to trade them. He's done it the correct way with Dawkins and Dawkins is doing the best he can with what there is available to him. He's loaded them up with draft picks and two of their major contributors last season were 2 out of their three first round picks. But if they nail the 6th pick in the draft and Sarr, Bub and Bilal continue to develop they have a very solid core going forward.

[Smithian]

Honestly, the fact we're already talking about dealing Gore just shows the state of this franchise under Mark. Its a shame what he and his siblings have done. Just sell the team and let us get competent ownership. People don't want Ted here for whatever reason but he would be 100x better than Mark. Our young players wouldn't leave and he would put money into the franchise. If he's the alternative I'm all for it. The Caps have been a model franchise for 20 years running. Give me that.

Who's discussing it other than JCA throwing the thought out there on an internet forum? Even Rosenthal said specifically that isn't happening after comparing team control of Gore to Soto.

[Natsinpwc]

Who's discussing it other than JCA throwing the thought out there on an internet forum? Even Rosenthal said specifically that isn't happening after comparing team control of Gore to Soto.

It shows how the fans have little or no hope now. Other than you and a couple others.  I admire your resilience. 

[Natsinpwc]

I mean, I'm not sure what he's supposed to do there? The NBA in general is just stupid. Its a league where a team that made the play-in game jumped to the first pick in the draft. Where your stars want to leave and go play with their buddies so you have to trade them. He's done it the correct way with Dawkins and Dawkins is doing the best he can with what there is available to him. He's loaded them up with draft picks and two of their major contributors last season were 2 out of their three first round picks. But if they nail the 6th pick in the draft and Sarr, Bub and Bilal continue to develop they have a very solid core going forward.

For years the team was lost in the middle.  He let Ernie hand out bad contracts and then kept extending him.  They hired a coach because they thought KD would follow him to DC.  And then when he finally fired Ernie he hired his protoge.  The new regime is hopeful but took a long time to get there.  Despite the league being stupid other teams find a way to compete.  They all play under the same rules. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Who's discussing it other than JCA throwing the thought out there on an internet forum? Even Rosenthal said specifically that isn't happening after comparing team control of Gore to Soto.

rosenthal said Gore isn't Soto but he didn't say the Nats would not trade Gore. Maybe I overplayed the Soto comparison, but I don't think they are holding onto Gore like they held Harper. When they deal if they can't sign him is more the question than would they deal him if they can't sign him, I/M/O.

[IanRubbish]

Gore will not be traded this year, but remember in '21 they said anyone besides Juan Soto was available.  If the team is 5-10 games under at the '26 deadline they'll reconsider, especially in light of how many Lernerbucks they'll have to pay him in '27.

[Smithian]

It shows how the fans have little or no hope now. Other than you and a couple others.  I admire your resilience. 

I was optimistic in 2010 and 2011. Posters got more mad back then about optimism. It's my way.

I look at it this way. If I'm optimistic and it goes badly, oh well. I had fun thinking about it. If I'm negative and it goes poorly, it sucked throughout.

[HalfSmokes]

The Cubs allegedly did this with Kris Bryant years back, and Boras filed a claim against them for service time manipulation.  If James Wood was still in AAA he would probably do the same.  That said, it would have also made sense to let Dylan Crews develop more before calling him up. 

He can file all the complaints he wants. It’s allowed under the CBA.

[Slateman]

The solution is stashing them in the minors until you're ready to compete. You can keep a prospect in the minors and then have them cost controlled through their late 20s/early 30s depending on high school vs college and there is nothing Boroas could do about it. There is no reason to promote a boras client until you have to - why bring them up after two or three years at the cost of their prime years?

If you gave truth serum to Lerner and Rizzo, you'd probably find out that there was a handshake agreement between them that Rizzo would be allowed to spend.

We are absolutely ready to compete with a proper payroll