Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Friday the club’s going into the July 31 trade deadline seeking controllable talent, especially in the bullpen. Already connected to relievers Mychal Givens and Jake Diekman so far this month, a couple more late-game arms are now on the Nationals’ radar. The club is interested in Tigers closer Shane Greene and Giants setup man Sam Dyson, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Not only are Greene and Dyson thriving in 2019, but they’re under wraps via the arbitration process through next season. Greene’s currently on a $4MM salary, while Dyson is making $5MM. There’s plenty of value in both cases, but if acquiring either would force the Nationals to give up prized shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom, it’s not going to happen. The Nats haven’t been willing to include Kieboom “in any deal,” according to Jamal Collier of MLB.com, and the Tigers were unsurprisingly turned down when they asked for Kieboom in exchange for Greene.
Widely regarded as one of the game’s premier prospects, the 21-year-old Kieboom would indeed be a big ask for a year-plus of a reliever, even though the Nationals are desperate for bullpen help. Despite having been weighed down by one of the majors’ worst relief groups from the get-go this year, the Nationals have gotten off to a 51-45 start and hold a one-game lead over the NL’s No. 1 wild-card spot.
With the Giants also in contention (they’re just 3 1/2 back of the Nats), acquiring Dyson could be difficult for Washington. Regardless, based on his performance this season, the 31-year-old Dyson would be an enormous get for the Nats’ relief corps. The right-hander has logged a sterling 2.68 ERA/2.67 FIP with 8.81 K/9, 1.15 BB/9 and a 55.1 percent groundball rate over 47 innings.
The 30-year-old Greene, also a righty, has put up similarly impressive numbers this season as the Tigers’ closer. Not only has Greene saved 22 of 24 chances, but he has recorded an eye-popping 1.03 ERA across 35 frames. Like Dyson, Greene’s strikeout, walk and grounder numbers are terrific. He has fanned 9.51 and walked 2.57 batters per nine, adding a 53.9 percent grounder mark for good measure. As we noted earlier this week, there’s quite a bit of good fortune baked into Greene’s output, but he has nonetheless impressed in 2019. And unlike San Francisco, Detroit’s way out of contention, making it almost a lock the Tigers will deal Greene by the deadline.
ntorsky
I bet it was Detroit asking about Kieboom. Can’t speak for the Giants but the Tigers have NOTHING up the middle in their farm system.
Matt Galvin
Tigers have 2B in Minors.
Dustin Michels
If it was Detroit I am sure it would have been Washington asking for Boyd. Asking that for Greene is a non starter.
bencole
Haha maybe Spencer Kieboom
Gobbysteiner
Giants have top 100 prospect Marco Luciano at SS but they do need a 2b
Pickle_Britches
I think Luciano will end up moving to a corner OF position..
Gobbysteiner
Why? He has the arm for short.
Pickle_Britches
That’s just what I been reading and hearing.
Pickle_Britches
Speaking of Luciano…. Another tator. He’s a freaking beast
DoItDoug
Parades is a middle infielder for the Tigers.
invisibleinkwell
Kieboom for those two relievers would be a massive overpay. Kieboom is worth $73.7M according to baseballtradevalues.com. Greene is at $9.6M, and Dyson is much lower. So it’s no wonder Rizzo would hang up.
bighooknochz
The 2 relievers are on different teams
Pickle_Britches
Yes they are lol
invisibleinkwell
Yes I know. Sorry, I should have said “either of” those two relievers. The point is that their values are nowhere close.
oldleftylong
Rizzo is a knucklehead.
Balk
How bought Dyson and Moronta, will that do it? Lol
oldleftylong
Fizzy is a knucklehead.
Nevrfolow
What’s the price of winning a world series? Or are the nats going to play for the future rather than this year like they did in 2012?
DodgerNation
Would trading for Dyson or Greene win them a World Series though? I don’t think they are one piece like that away from a title.
Strike Four
Is anyone after Reyes Moronta? Seems like he’s really flying under the radar behind the 3-4 other bigger SF bullpen names, but he’d be a great pickup for a contender and the Giants might be right to sell high.
bencole
Yeah dude is pretty solid
Pickle_Britches
Moronta has a nasty slide piece. He can also bring that gas when he wants too.
DM_Nats
I think Antuna plus maybe one of our better pitching prospects like Cate, Sharp, or Romero for Greene or whoever but there’s no way I’m trading Kieboom for any reliever…Maybe Luis Garcia becomes tradeable if we can lock up Rendon but even then I think he’s off the table for a relief pitcher. Hopefully Riz can work his magic for someone we need it lol.
Dustin Michels
Garcia is the one player I would shoot for Greene if I was the Tigers.
oldleftylong
Rizzo Fizzy is a knucklehead.
Pickle_Britches
Sam Dyson for Tim cate
Dustin Michels
That sounds fair for both teams.
DM_Nats
Cate has looked really good lately. I like him more than Crowe.
Strike Four
Way too much for a Dyson rental.
Gobbysteiner
Not a rental
Pickle_Britches
Or Greene for Garcia
Dustin Michels
I like that as well…2 deals
Wash gets Dyson and Greene
SF gets Cate
Det gets Garcia
Let’s call the GMs to get this done Pickles
bencole
Maybe Cate/Dyson, they won’t give you Garcia for a non-elite reliever
oldleftylong
AA says YES.
Pickle_Britches
I already sent Farhan a email. I don’t have the tigers GM contact, so I leave that on you
Dustin Michels
I have Avila on board..I guess Rizzo is sweating out another close game late with a lead right now so he is not answering his phone.
Pickle_Britches
Lmao
The3ofDiamonds
As much as I’d love to see the Giants get a prospect like Carter Kieboom or Luis Garcia in a trade for a bullpen arm I don’t see the Nats giving up that much. If the Giants could get some combination of Antuna, De La Rosa, and Adon I think it would be a smart move for them.
Melchez
Greene for Garcia would be a good trade. Greene isn’t getting them Kieboom. If I were Avila, I would try and pry Beer from Houston. Tigers have no 1B prospects and Beer is buried behind Alvarez and Gurriel. Beer has been forced to play OF and they have Tucker and Fisher there. Maybe Greene and Buck Farmer. Farmer has been solid against right handed hitters.
Pickle_Britches
How about madbum, Dyson and Garcia for keiboom. Gives Giants a premier SS and nats get another premium starter to help em get into playoffs and they get a good catching prospect that could mash 20 tators and post . 800ops. Since he’s blocked by Bart.
Dustin Michels
How about MadBum/Dyson/WSmith for Kieboom and Cate?
It is hard to say Bart is blocking Garcia with Bart two years away and Garcia is freaking 26 yrs old. I think Garcia’s overall game is blocking himself.
Pickle_Britches
Shoot I be all for that deal..
Yeah he can hit fairly good and he’s got that power and on base ability, just not sure how good his “D” is
Dustin Michels
Washington gives up a lot but man…
Playoff rotation:
Max
Stras
Corbin
MadBum
Bullpen:
ASanchez
Dyson
WSmith
Doolittle
Pickle_Britches
Sounds like something I wouldn’t want to be apart of, as an opponent..
brat922
Hahaha. All those guys aren’t going anywhere together. The Giants are on the move for the WC. And I think Madison stays and hope Dyson does!!
coachsteve
Greene for Garcia OR Greene, Jimenez, and Farmer for Kieboom and Garcia.