The Nationals have expressed interest in Dan Haren and inquired on Carlos Quentin, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Quentin isn't available, but the Nats' interest in that pair of players, plus Edwin Jackson and David DeJesus shows that GM Mike Rizzo has an aggressive approach to the trade deadline. The 34-44 Nationals could be buyers or sellers, but Rizzo has identified the organization’s most pressing need.
"Our biggest need now and at the trade deadline is starting pitching," Rizzo said.
Like most GMs, Rizzo is reluctant to describe his team as sellers or buyers at this point. Perhaps the Nationals will be neither and continue making deals like the Nyjer Morgan trade, which was completed one year ago today. Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are among the Nationals drawing interest on the trade market, so Rizzo will have chances to buy and sell over the course of the next month.
RiverKKiller999
Nat’s are gonna make a big push for 4th place 🙂
$1529282
Either one would go a long way beyond helping their team in 2010.
jill
I’m with you. It’s not about 4th place. It’s about building a team beyond this year. All of those players would be under team control or are already under contract for more than 2010. I say go for it. Just don’t break the bank or trade vital pieces that are necessary for the future.
souldrummer
You could be a little bit nicer to us since we seem to at least do a better job of beating the Mets than we do the Braves when we’re making stabs at respectability.
RiverKKiller999
It was sarcasm .
souldrummer
Next time I’ll put a smiley face on my comment. I think I got where you were going. I was aiming for self-deprecating humor more than a beatdown.
Nicholas Harmel
i hope Rizzo makes some great deals. i am liking the names im hearing. Nothing else really to say yet cause all of these are speculations of rumors.
fitz
Nice to hear about the Nationals as potential buyers.
Wainwrights_Curveball
I know, isn’t it weird to see that?
Barring some spectacular run between now and the trade deadline in which the Nats are able so somehow catch the Braves, I don’t think they should be aggressive in buying this season. I just don’t see the need to trade future pieces of the franchise away right now. If they have needs to fill, the Lerner family has been willing to open up the check-books and help the Nats address their holes through FA acquisitions.
This team is going to be very interesting to watch next year.
souldrummer
The Nats are most likely going to stand pat. To move Willingham or Dunn, they will need to get back at least a top 75 prospect who they can sell to their fan base as a key piece for no later than 2012. They don’t want to continue to embarass themselves in Strasburg starts and lose out on the potential season ticket bump that they can get if they can even manage a 70 win season. They have to have something that they can sell as short term progress.
Kevin Chambers
Your never taking Q away never, ever, never, ever. I won’t let him go.
klassic
Quentin and Jordan Danks for Dunn. lol
foxtown
I’ll make that trade right now (from whitesox perspective)
NYBravosFan10
The Nationals aren’t going to be buyers. That’s not how it works. Teams like them give up their big stars in order to get young guns to help them later. Unless you’re the Marlins then you just do it anyway regardless of winning or losing. The fact that Hanley, Uggla, and Cantu have been around so long is shocking.
jwsox
the only way carlos gets delt to anyone is if we get a top tier prospect in return who is close to major league ready…if dunn was 2 years younger than maybe dunn for calor straight up…Or if andruw jones decides he wants to play like he did at the beginning of the season for a full season then/ jordan danks can prove he can hit major league pitchers then maybe you deal carlos but still there is no way the nats could get him we would need a young top prospect for TCQ, he is second on the teams in RBis, his home runs and average are climbing every week why in the world would kenny williams part with a fan favorite in carlos unless he was getting something good in return
Ricky Bones
Adam Dunn presents far more danger to the opposing team than Carlos Quentin. Quentin defines the terms “streaky” and “injury prone.”
“Unless he was getting something good in return”? Evidently, a left handed batter who hits 40 homers & takes 100 walks is a bum.
Wainwrights_Curveball
Dunn can get pretty streaky too, but otherwise, I certainly agree with you.
gwells
dunn’s really no more streaky than any other MLB player. but he’s certainly not tremendously streaky or prone to especially long slumps. as far as a hitter goes, he’s reasonably consistent.
aap212
I think Jordan Danks needs to prove he can hit minor league pitching before he can prove he can hit major league pitching.
aap212
I think Jordan Danks needs to prove he can hit minor league pitching before he can prove he can hit major league pitching.
Joe
nationals are also intrested in Jeter, Rivera, cliff lee, Pedroia, and lebron james.
Wainwrights_Curveball
LeBron could probably ring it up on the pitchers mound and play a mean RF. He’d also bat .320/.370/.540. What an athlete that LeBron James feller is. ^_^
P W
lebron was seen playing ss in a pick up softball game with his friends according to mike and mike lol
P W
lebron was seen playing ss in a pick up softball game with his friends according to mike and mike lol
Guest 3483
Haren to the Nats would be idiotic.
Guest 3483
Haren to the Nats would be idiotic.
dire straits
The Nats are showing the Dodgers’ front office how your mindset should be even when your team is playing horribly.