The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is still over a month away, but clubs like the Washington Nationals might be players this year. According to Bill Ladson, the Nationals' beat writer, Washington might be making some noise before these deadlines are through.
The Nationals are currently struggling. They are in possession of second place in the N.L. East, seven games behind the Atlanta Braves. Though it may sound great to be a second-place team, the Nationals' record is 35-36. They would be further back in the standings, but the Braves have been inconsistent throughout the season.
Ladson explains that, with Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos on the shelf, the Nationals will have to get some reinforcements into the lineup.
Who would be good candidates to fill in the role of the right-handed bench hitter with power? Ideally, teams would pursue guys in the last year of a contract, but there is nobody on the list of players that fit the criteria from next year's free agent pool who impresses. A guy like Ryan Raburn, however, could be the perfect candidate for the Nationals. Raburn has eight home runs with 21 RBI in 42 games played this year. He's a right-handed bat and he doesn't play every day.
Chris Young may not be the power solution for the Nationals, but indications are that he is expendable, as he has only played in 48 of the Oakland Athletics' 74 games. Young's batting average stinks as he's hitting .192 with seven home runs and 26 RBI, but he is at a stage in his career where coming off the bench might be the only thing he's good for. Also key in a move involving Young is the comfort of having dealt with one another as the A's and Nationals have swapped players recently, namely Gio Gonzalez.
It will be interesting to see who the Nationals will acquire to fill their need as the season approaches the halfway mark. With the All-Star game less than a month away, the crunchtime for the playoff races is right around the corner.
