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

[varoadking]

I'm not sure having Schwarber here would have made as much of a difference as getting a manager with more than rudimentary respect for data. I'm just amazed at how Butera is able to get more out of the crud sandwich of a pitching staff he's been given, and, on the hitting side, just how much better the same guys or cast-offs from other organizations are now than they were then.

The team may not have been any better...but having Schwarby would have been like having Ovechkin...a true headliner that seldom disappoints in his personal performance...not to mention a really quality human to root for... 

[Natsinpwc]

The team may not have been any better...but having Schwarby would have been like having Ovechkin...a true headliner that seldom disappoints in his personal performance...not to mention a really quality human to root for...

He hit a another upper decker for you tonight. Buy it is June after all.

[varoadking]

He hit a another upper decker for you tonight. Buy it is June after all.

I miss him...

[Natsinpwc]

I miss him...

The dark side awaits you.

[Slateman]

The argument I keep hearing for not trading CJ is that it would damage the clubhouse.


How much more damage does it do to not even try fixing this pitching?

[Slateman]

I was just thinking last night how much more I would have enjoyed the team these past several years...win or lose...if they had simply decided to keep Schwarby.  Even moreso since they have nothing to show for having traded him.

Can't help but think things may have played out differently if they weren't saddled with that albatross of a Strasburg contract...

He was never staying.

The delusional nostalgia this team has for Schwarber is mind blowing. He was a reclamation project here.

[welch]

Forget Schwarber. He was going to stay for one season, and Nats were hoping for another playoff. When Strasburg could no longer pitch, Schwarber would have been gone at the end of the season.

I wish the Nats had made a genuine offer for Harper in 2018. He was our kid, the guy who could not drink at the celebration when these Nats made the playoffs in 2012. We watched him grow up.

[imref]

Forget Schwarber. He was going to stay for one season, and Nats were hoping for another playoff. When Strasburg could no longer pitch, Schwarber would have been gone at the end of the season.

I wish the Nats had made a genuine offer for Harper in 2018. He was our kid, the guy who could not drink at the celebration when these Nats made the playoffs in 2012. We watched him grow up.

if we had kept harper then we would have traded Eaton. OF would have been Soto/Robles/Harper. Eaton was pretty important to the 2019 run.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

The argument I keep hearing for not trading CJ is that it would damage the clubhouse.


How much more damage does it do to not even try fixing this pitching?

We're in the midst of a playoff chase and you want to trade one of our best players lol. Come on dude.

[IdahoNat]

Forget Schwarber. He was going to stay for one season, and Nats were hoping for another playoff. When Strasburg could no longer pitch, Schwarber would have been gone at the end of the season.

I wish the Nats had made a genuine offer for Harper in 2018. He was our kid, the guy who could not drink at the celebration when these Nats made the playoffs in 2012. We watched him grow up.

Never would have happened unfortunately. One of my classmates at my law school said he knew the Harpers (he was from the LV area and his dad was a former MLB relief pitcher) and he said Harper felt the Nats Org treated him pretty badly.

[PowerBoater69]

Never would have happened unfortunately. One of my classmates at my law school said he knew the Harpers (he was from the LV area and his dad was a former MLB relief pitcher) and he said Harper felt the Nats Org treated him pretty badly.

And look at him now.

[Ryan9009]

Got into a heated debate with older brother and father over the topic as I once again advocated strongly for still trading CJ and also James Wood this summer. This was met with extreme derision as echoed above, 'why trade your best players in a playoff race idiot!'...

Well why indeed. Several thoughts come to my mind that still sway me in that direction.

1. We do not have the pitching to last into August, much less September, much less some October fantasy run.
2. CJ is not a shortstop long term with the defense issues that do not seem to improve.
3. James Wood is a great player, but also struggles in the field and not fleet of foot and physically could devolve quickly after a payday.
4. The two players alone could potentially cost the team half a billion dollars to sign long term, a lot to give up for 2 left handed hitting DHs.
5. There will be a labor stoppage or issue that has to be included in evaluating players in this age group.
6. The system overall, especially regarding all types of pitching, is still lacking both for depth and star potential.

These 2 players could set up this team for a decade of playoff runs.

[varoadking]

...Harper felt the Nats Org treated him pretty badly.

Rizzo...

[varoadking]

Got into a heated debate with older brother and father over the topic as I once again advocated strongly for still trading CJ and also James Wood this summer. This was met with extreme derision as echoed above, 'why trade your best players in a playoff race idiot!'...

Well why indeed. Several thoughts come to my mind that still sway me in that direction.

1. We do not have the pitching to last into August, much less September, much less some October fantasy run.
2. CJ is not a shortstop long term with the defense issues that do not seem to improve.
3. James Wood is a great player, but also struggles in the field and not fleet of foot and physically could devolve quickly after a payday.
4. The two players alone could potentially cost the team half a billion dollars to sign long term, a lot to give up for 2 left handed hitting DHs.
5. There will be a labor stoppage or issue that has to be included in evaluating players in this age group.
6. The system overall, especially regarding all types of pitching, is still lacking both for depth and star potential.

These 2 players could set up this team for a decade of playoff runs.

Agree on CJ...we need to move him.  Wood needs to stay put as long as we can keep him here...he knows how to hit and he can either learn how to field or serve as a DH...

[Slateman]

Rizzo...

Ted Lerner.  It was the Ted Lerner who insisted on deferring money until Harper was eligible to collect Social Security.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Got into a heated debate with older brother and father over the topic as I once again advocated strongly for still trading CJ and also James Wood this summer. This was met with extreme derision as echoed above, 'why trade your best players in a playoff race idiot!'...

Well why indeed. Several thoughts come to my mind that still sway me in that direction.

1. We do not have the pitching to last into August, much less September, much less some October fantasy run.
2. CJ is not a shortstop long term with the defense issues that do not seem to improve.
3. James Wood is a great player, but also struggles in the field and not fleet of foot and physically could devolve quickly after a payday.
4. The two players alone could potentially cost the team half a billion dollars to sign long term, a lot to give up for 2 left handed hitting DHs.
5. There will be a labor stoppage or issue that has to be included in evaluating players in this age group.
6. The system overall, especially regarding all types of pitching, is still lacking both for depth and star potential.

These 2 players could set up this team for a decade of playoff runs.

If you want to kill off what little bit of this fanbase is left then you trade James Wood. You do that and nobody will care about this team again. Also, you're assuming all these players Wood and Abrams are traded for pan out. Most of them probably won't. The team completely lucked out getting Wood and having him play to this ability because it softened the blow with Soto. If you deal someone like Wood who's from DC and show the fanbase yet again you aren't going to pay your talent no matter how good they are that will probably be the end of it. I'm not sure how the team could even recover from that? They have to pay Wood.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Got into a heated debate with older brother and father over the topic as I once again advocated strongly for still trading CJ and also James Wood this summer. This was met with extreme derision as echoed above, 'why trade your best players in a playoff race idiot!'...

Well why indeed. Several thoughts come to my mind that still sway me in that direction.

1. We do not have the pitching to last into August, much less September, much less some October fantasy run.
2. CJ is not a shortstop long term with the defense issues that do not seem to improve.
3. James Wood is a great player, but also struggles in the field and not fleet of foot and physically could devolve quickly after a payday.
4. The two players alone could potentially cost the team half a billion dollars to sign long term, a lot to give up for 2 left handed hitting DHs.
5. There will be a labor stoppage or issue that has to be included in evaluating players in this age group.
6. The system overall, especially regarding all types of pitching, is still lacking both for depth and star potential.

These 2 players could set up this team for a decade of playoff runs.

I'm not sure what you  mean about Wood not being  "fleet of foot." He's extremely fast. On the bases, he's an effective base stealer. Speed isn't his problem.  Do you mean a quick jump in the field? Maybe, but he has tons of make up speed.  He's playable in a corner. His height helps him along the fence. He's pretty much a middle of the pack defender in right.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&qual=y&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&stats=fld&pos=rf&type=24

I think he  ages better than Adam Dunn. The training available now makes that sort of a blow up  less likely. Also, he's been around a few years now and we don't see evidence of  anything like that near term. Maybe 6 years from now he'll bulk up like Young and lose some speed, but the next few years, that seems unlikely.

As for CJ, I think he's on the table if this team fades by the all star break. He would likely be the most attractive hitter on the market. Vlow away offer, yah, pull the trigger.  That said, I don't see the rush to trade him at this deadline. There's 2 more seasons of control after this season. That's worth a lot this winter. If  you are saying  this  year isn't worth trying for the playoffs, then you can deal him to more teams next winter and they can convert him to the position they want. This year, it's just a few teams that have a need at SS or are willing to move him on the fly.

[Slateman]

If you want to kill off what little bit of this fanbase is left then you trade James Wood. You do that and nobody will care about this team again. Also, you're assuming all these players Wood and Abrams are traded for pan out. Most of them probably won't. The team completely lucked out getting Wood and having him play to this ability because it softened the blow with Soto. If you deal someone like Wood who's from DC and show the fanbase yet again you aren't going to pay your talent no matter how good they are that will probably be the end of it. I'm not sure how the team could even recover from that? They have to pay Wood.

The Brewers and the Guardians have been doing that for 10+ years and fans still care

It wasn't lucky. Wood, Abrams, and Gore have all played well. It was a great trade. Ownership just pulled the rug out.

Wood is from Olney and grew up a Yankees fan. He isn't a hometown guy.

You have to deal CJ at the deadline and Wood probably at the next full season's deadline. This is how hyper-analytic, small-to-medium budget teams stay relevant.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The Brewers and the Guardians have been doing that for 10+ years and fans still care

It wasn't lucky. Wood, Abrams, and Gore have all played well. It was a great trade. Ownership just pulled the rug out.

Wood is from Olney and grew up a Yankees fan. He isn't a hometown guy.

You have to deal CJ at the deadline and Wood probably at the next full season's deadline. This is how hyper-analytic, small-to-medium budget teams stay relevant.

Wood has so many years of control that I don't think there's ever been a deal comparable to moving him  now.

For CJ, really aren't the Yankees unique in his market in that they would play him at SS? I think his market is hurt by the need to switch defensive position mid-season. LAD could move Mookie off SS. I  think I like his offseason market.

[Slateman]

Wood has so many years of control that I don't think there's ever been a deal comparable to moving him  now.

For CJ, really aren't the Yankees unique in his market in that they would play him at SS? I think his market is hurt by the need to switch defensive position mid-season. LAD could move Mookie off SS. I  think I like his offseason market.

You move him now because you're realistically 3 seasons away from seriously competing, which is basically when you'd be moving him in an offseason. Its the Soto deal all over again. The best time time to move him is never. The second best time to move him is right now.

[GataNats]

You move him now because you're realistically 3 seasons away from seriously competing, which is basically when you'd be moving him in an offseason. Its the Soto deal all over again. The best time time to move him is never. The second best time to move him is right now.

We are competing right now. You absolutely don’t trade Wood or Abrams.   You trade Mead, while he has some value, and Griffin, which is smoke and mirrors.  You hit the FA and trade market for starting pitchers

[JCA-CrystalCity]

We are competing right now. You absolutely don’t trade Wood or Abrams.   You trade Mead, while he has some value, and Griffin, which is smoke and mirrors.  You hit the FA and trade market for starting pitchers

you say we are contending and to trade Griffin. how do you fill his innings in the rotation? Alvarez (once Irvin is back)? then you need lefty bullpen help.

[tomterp]

Wood is from Olney and grew up a Yankees fan. He isn't a hometown guy.

Pretty much on board with the rest of your post but not this - Olney is 20 miles north of downtown DC and is considered part of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.  Comparable to Bryce Eldridge, who's from Vienna Va.

[IdahoNat]

you say we are contending and to trade Griffin. how do you fill his innings in the rotation? Alvarez (once Irvin is back)? then you need lefty bullpen help.

With Herz probably done for the season, they definitely need to add a few pitchers at the deadline. Someone like Brent Suter from Anaheim is someone they could get for an out of top 30 org prospect.

[tomterp]

We are competing right now. You absolutely don’t trade Wood or Abrams.   You trade Mead, while he has some value, and Griffin, which is smoke and mirrors.  You hit the FA and trade market for starting pitchers

I wouldn't touch Mead, he's improving rapidly, still learning third base and giving us some great slugging.  Unless House figures it out and becomes a stud, Mead could well be our 3rd baseman when we get good.