Should We Buy or Should We Sell Now - Trade Deadline 2026

[OfftheBat]

Krook just got DFA'd, Abimelec Ortiz got called up

Source: Talk Nats

[imref]

Krook just got DFA'd, Abimelec Ortiz got called up

Source: Talk Nats

After a good 1.2 inning outing? Odd to call up another lefty hitter. Hopefully Garcia isn't hurt.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The’d be burned out and over exposed within 6 weeks. This team is two starters and three relievers away from even being close to a playoff caliber unit. This requires money to fix.

I think it's ugly but you can shuffle low leverage multi inning guys for the bottom 2-3 spots in the bullpen and do good enough by adding a couple of higher lev guys to go with a combo of Beeter, Ribalta, maybe Poulin or Cosgrove on a hot streak, and a healthy Lord. That still lets you start Alvarez. Still could use a starter in that case.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Krook just got DFA'd, Abimelec Ortiz got called up

Source: Talk Nats

yah, Krook was brought in for the Yankee series as a lefty they had not seen. Too clever.

[OfftheBat]

yah, Krook was brought in for the Yankee series as a lefty they had not seen. Too clever.

Another Toboni masterclass🤓

[OfftheBat]

After a good 1.2 inning outing? Odd to call up another lefty hitter. Hopefully Garcia isn't hurt.

Hopefully not 🤞

[Squab]

I suppose I can't really think of a reason not to sell if ownership isn't going to loosen the purse strings this offseason and reward this success. I wonder if they're including deferred money as "payroll":

Strasburg will receive $23.5 in 2026, $26.6M in 2027, 2028 and 2029
Scherzer is getting $15M in 2026, 2027
we're even paying Kyle Finnegan $2M in 2027, 2028

If that money is being subtracted from the payroll and we can't use it then I guess we just have to wait it out and trade folks with an eye toward 2028 and beyond.

If we don't have a realistic shot at keeping Griffin with Mikolas+Williams+Littell+scraps money, you have to deal him.
This is the best time to deal Garcia as well.

Feels like you could net 2-3 pieces that'd slot in that 7-15 space on our top prospects list, seems like a pretty fair shot that you'd end up with a better outcome when all is said and done.

Even if we had a real bullpen and were sitting on 58 wins, I don't know that I'd pick us to win the division with how little SP depth we have and expecting some offensive regression to the mean. If your best case scenario is wild card team the next couple of years, I can see the argument for selling high and retooling to set up 2028, 2029 as best as you can. If you're gonna do that, you might as well deal Abrams too so maybe it just depends on what Toboni hears from ownership.

[varoadking]

This teams chances of ever competing with current ownership died with Ted Lerner on 02/12/23...

[Slateman]

I suppose I can't really think of a reason not to sell if ownership isn't going to loosen the purse strings this offseason and reward this success. I wonder if they're including deferred money as "payroll":

Strasburg will receive $23.5 in 2026, $26.6M in 2027, 2028 and 2029
Scherzer is getting $15M in 2026, 2027
we're even paying Kyle Finnegan $2M in 2027, 2028

If that money is being subtracted from the payroll and we can't use it then I guess we just have to wait it out and trade folks with an eye toward 2028 and beyond.

If we don't have a realistic shot at keeping Griffin with Mikolas+Williams+Littell+scraps money, you have to deal him.
This is the best time to deal Garcia as well.

Feels like you could net 2-3 pieces that'd slot in that 7-15 space on our top prospects list, seems like a pretty fair shot that you'd end up with a better outcome when all is said and done.

Even if we had a real bullpen and were sitting on 58 wins, I don't know that I'd pick us to win the division with how little SP depth we have and expecting some offensive regression to the mean. If your best case scenario is wild card team the next couple of years, I can see the argument for selling high and retooling to set up 2028, 2029 as best as you can. If you're gonna do that, you might as well deal Abrams too so maybe it just depends on what Toboni hears from ownership.

Its absolutely being counted as an expense, just like payroll.

I agree, 2028 is the earliest to expect to compete. And thats if you can get Sykora and Rosario enough innings to pitch a full season.

[imref]

Its absolutely being counted as an expense, just like payroll.

I agree, 2028 is the earliest to expect to compete. And thats if you can get Sykora and Rosario enough innings to pitch a full season.

except at that point they are looking at trading Wood.

[readonly]

except at that point they are looking at trading Wood.

Trading Wood would be insane.  They need to lock him up on a longterm deal and build around him whether it is short term, mid term or long term. 

[Slateman]

except at that point they are looking at trading Wood.

Eh, if they're actually competitive, then they wont be moving him until Arb 2 or 3.

[Slateman]

Trading Wood would be insane.  They need to lock him up on a longterm deal and build around him whether it is short term, mid term or long term. 

He's a Boras client. He isnt signing an extension.

[HalfSmokes]

He's a Boras client. He isnt signing an extension.

Not to mention building around him would require spending money which the Lerners will not do

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Yeah, I’m sorry but I’m over being excited about other team’s prospects that we won’t see for 3-5 years. If they deal Abrams and Wood I’m out as a fan. I’ll find another team to root for until these dummies sell. If others want to hang on and cheer for nothingness than more power to you but I won’t hang out any longer while the Lerner kids suck what life is left out of the team and fanbase. Trading James Wood would be the biggest eff you to the fanbase of all-time.

[IdahoNat]

Wood isn't gonna be a free agent till 2031 so I'm not sure why this is being brought up right now. The only position players they really have to make decisions on in the short-term right now are Luis and Abrams.

[imref]

Wood isn't gonna be a free agent till 2031 so I'm not sure why this is being brought up right now. The only position players they really have to make decisions on in the short-term right now are Luis and Abrams.

slate said we'll be ready to compete in 2028, which given the Soto track record, is around the time we'd start talking about trading Wood if he won't sign a long-term extension. Soto was traded around 2.5 years before becoming a FA. Wood becomes a FA after the 2030 season.

I can't think of anything this team could do to restore some faith by the fanbase more than locking up Wood now.

[Slateman]

slate said we'll be ready to compete in 2028, which given the Soto track record, is around the time we'd start talking about trading Wood if he won't sign a long-term extension. Soto was traded around 2.5 years before becoming a FA. Wood becomes a FA after the 2030 season.

I can't think of anything this team could do to restore some faith by the fanbase more than locking up Wood now.

That also has to do with how the team is performing/expecting to perform.

If we're legitimately winning, than we would probably hang on to Wood for the 2029 season and make a decision either at the deadline or the offseason afterwards. This is what all the good, small-to-mid market teams do. They capitalize on their players before they go to free agency. Think about the Brewers. They traded Peralta with a year left and Burnes with a year left.

[imref]

FWIW, there are reports that the Rays are looking to go for it and have prioritized a MI bat and Skubal. If we are selling, they could be a partner.

[Slateman]

FWIW, there are reports that the Rays are looking to go for it and have prioritized a MI bat and Skubal. If we are selling, they could be a partner.

They tried to get Ohatni. Were willing to give up Junior Cameniero and Carson Williams.

[imref]

They tried to get Ohatni. Were willing to give up Junior Cameniero and Carson Williams.

AI suggests Williams, Brody Hopkins (RHP), Daniel Pierce (MI), and either Taylor Walls (INF) or Joe Rock (LHP) as fair compensation for Abrams.

Williams would have to be part of the return. Rock would be a good fit given Toboni's lust for LHPs. Pierce is a lottery ticket. Hopkins looks like a potential stud.

at this point, I'd do this deal in a heartbeat, even if it meant including another minor league piece.

[Slateman]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/angels-trade-package-inside-the-rumored-reid-detmers-blockbuster-deal/ar-AA27Anpp?ocid=BingNewsSerp

I realize its just an article, but the Nats can easily match that trade offer and then some.

Susana, House, Fein, Clemmey, and Dickerson gets you Reid Detmers and Sam Bachman*. Then circle back with the Mets and Reds and see which lefty out of Minter, Raley, and Ferguson, will cost you the least.

We immediately push Alvarez back to a bullpen role, where he has been outstanding. When Irvin gets back, Mikolas is either DFA'd or they can push him to the bullpen and try him (I've advocated for him as a 1 inning per appearance type reliever, pushing Lawrence out). When Williams gets back, they can shuffle him to a long term relief sport (or trade Littell if its soon enough) and send Cornelio back down to work as a reliever. When Lord is ready, we can make a decision on Ribalta vs Mikolas

Rotation: Detmers, Cavalli, Foster, Littell, Irvin
Bullpen: Beeter, Bachman, Minter/Raley/Ferguson, Lord, Ribalta/Mikolas, 2 of Cosgrove/Poulin/Palmquist, Williams (long relief)


This fixes the issue of having three of our rotation spots requiring openers. Only Littell should need one, though you could pair one with Irvin if you wanted to (probably would work well). We get late inning bullpen help with Bachman (will need some refinement but the Angels are awful at pitcher development). We get a left handed reliever that can get left handed hitters out. And we remove two relievers with 7+ ERAs and replace them with competent relievers. We also relieve some of the multi-inning burden on Lord and are able to use him in higher leverage over shorter spurts.


*Alternatively, we could go Susana, Fein, Clemmey, Dickerson, and Lomavita for Detmers and Kirby Yates. But I like the idea of getting a guy like Bachman and having him for the next couple years.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

We immediately push Alvarez back to a bullpen role, where he has been outstanding. When Irvin gets back, Mikolas is either DFA'd or they can push him to the bullpen and try him (I've advocated for him as a 1 inning per appearance type reliever, pushing Lawrence out). When Williams gets back, they can shuffle him to a long term relief sport (or trade Littell if its soon enough) and send Cornelio back down to work as a reliever. When Lord is ready, we can make a decision on Ribalta vs Mikolas

Rotation: Detmers, Cavalli, Foster, Littell, Irvin
Bullpen: Beeter, Bachman, Minter/Raley/Ferguson, Lord, Ribalta/Mikolas, 2 of Cosgrove/Poulin/Palmquist, Williams (long relief)

Do you need Bachman or the second deal if you are pushing Alvarez to the bullpen?

I think that there probably are out there teams that would still try Fien at SS or 3rd, maybe Dickerson, too. Adding 2 or 3 arms (if you count Alvarez) to the bullpen suddenly makes that group  a lot  more respectable. Basically, your current set up crew of Ribalta, Lord, and the lefties get pushed down to lower leverage.

Alternatively, if you pick up  2 relievers, then maybe you drop Littell from the rotation and keep Alvarez there.

I think both Irvin and Lord will be back by the D-backs series after the break.

[Slateman]

Do you need Bachman or the second deal if you are pushing Alvarez to the bullpen?

Yes. Have you seen this bullpen?

I actually forgot to add in Alvarez. So basically, we send Poulin down, we DFA one of Cosgrove or Palmquist, and we use that spot for Alvarez.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yes. Have you seen this bullpen?

I actually forgot to add in Alvarez. So basically, we send Poulin down, we DFA one of Cosgrove or Palmquist, and we use that spot for Alvarez.

Palmquist has options.

Oh, BTW - Dick Lovelady may be coming back, and Kranick may need a roster spot.