Nats Notes: Deadline, Winker, Hassell, Wooden, Crews

The Nationals have acquired commerce curiosity in veterans Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey and Lane Thomas however haven’t thought of dealing any veteran items simply but, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Community. Washington, even with a sub-.500 file (35-36), is tied with the Padres for the ultimate Wild Card spot within the Nationwide League in the mean time and has not but made a willpower on tips on how to strategy this 12 months’s commerce deadline, Morosi provides.

It’s smart for groups to inquire with the Nats, who entered the season as a playoff long-shot after spending the previous two years in a rebuilding sample. The Nats have outplayed expectations due to myriad components (e.g. breakouts from MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin and Trevor Williams; a stronger-than-expected debut for lefty Mitchell Parker; an enormous step ahead by CJ Abrams; a rebound by Jesse Winker). These optimistic developments, plus widespread mediocrity within the Nationwide League, have thrust the Nationals into postseason conversations in mid-June. Williams’ current flexor pressure is an enormous damper on the staff’s strong displaying this 12 months, but it surely’s solely pure that GM Mike Rizzo and his employees aren’t but able to concede that they’ll be deadline sellers.

The following six weeks shall be pivotal for the Nats. Holding the established order and even taking part in successful ball between now and July 30 might push the Nationals to operate as consumers. They is probably not eager on dealing prospects for short-term leases in a season like this, however focusing on some names with a number of years of membership management remaining feels believable. On the opposite facet of the coin, if the Nats fall a couple of video games again within the standings and/or incur additional harm issues of observe, then listening on short-term veterans can be far likelier.

All three of the names listed by Morosi are managed solely by the 2025 season. Finnegan and Harvey would each draw widespread curiosity amongst contenders, given the perennial demand for bullpen assist amongst playoff hopefuls. Harvey, specifically, has been dominant with a 28.3% strikeout fee and 5.5% stroll fee en path to a 2.75 ERA. Finnegan leads the staff with 20 saves and a terrific 1.78 ERA, although he’s benefited massively from a microscopic .157 BABIP and a sky-high 94.7% strand fee — neither of which feels sustainable long-term.

Thomas drew curiosity finally summer season’s commerce deadline, however he’s seemingly somebody the Nats worth greater than lots of the groups in search of to accumulate him. Washington reportedly priced him like an on a regular basis participant on final summer season’s commerce market — which can also be how they use him — however Thomas carries huge platoon splits and may very well be seen by different golf equipment as a participant finest deployed in a timeshare. He’s batting .327/.390/.588 towards lefties this season (166 wRC+) however has an terrible .196/.256/.330 output towards righties (65 wRC+). His profession splits aren’t fairly that dramatic however are fairly stark: .305/.364/.524 versus left-handers (141 wRC+) in comparison with .223/.290/.392 versus right-handers (86 wRC+).

The following few weeks shall be pivotal for Rizzo and his lieutenants as they chart a course for this 12 months’s deadline planning. If the Nats fall a number of video games out of the race, all three of the names listed by Morosi might feasibly hit the market, and so they seemingly wouldn’t be alone. Third baseman Nick Senzel and reliever Derek Law are additionally solely managed by 2025 as nicely. Veterans Dylan Floro and Eddie Rosario are free brokers on the finish of the present season, as are the aforementioned Williams and Winker.

Talking of Winker, he had an harm scare over the weekend when he felt knee ache after taking an enormous flip at first base, slamming on the brakes and (unsuccessfully) diving again to the bag. He exited the sport two innings later. Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports that Winker underwent an MRI that fortunately got here again clear. He’s listed as day-to-day for now.

Winker, 30, isn’t hitting for a lot energy this season however is drawing walks at his sometimes lofty fee (13.4%) and has made considerably higher contact than he did over the previous two seasons in a pair of down years with the Mariners and Brewers. He’s batting .265/.378/.390 with six homers and ten doubles by 268 plate appearances. Like Thomas, he’s higher utilized in a platoon setting however has been an on a regular basis participant in Washington. Winker, to his credit score, has a roughly league-average .239/.345/.338 slash in 84 plate appearances towards fellow lefties, however he’s a profession .210/.325/.338 hitter (89 wRC+) in left-on-left conditions, in comparison with .279/.383/.467 (130 wRC+) towards righties.

Eventual trades of Winker, Rosario and/or Thomas might open the door for any variety of Nationals farmhands on the large league degree. One near-MLB-ready possibility, Robert Hassell III, doesn’t appear as if he’ll be an possibility anytime quickly, nonetheless. The Nats positioned Hassell on the minor league injured listing final week, and TalkNats.com reports that he’s coping with one other wrist harm and that the staff plans to proceed cautiously. Hassell has had a number of wrist accidents prior to now, together with a damaged hamate bone that necessitated surgical procedure.

One of the notable prospects acquired within the Nationals’ blockbuster commerce of Juan Soto to the Padres, Hassell opened the season with a .278/.369/.369 slash in 215 plate appearances on the Double-A degree. These numbers don’t leap out, however they’re about 14% higher than common in his at present pitcher-friendly atmosphere, by measure of wRC+. They’re additionally a large step ahead from the .225/.316/.324 batting line recorded by Hassell on the similar minor league degree final 12 months (476 plate appearances).

Each Hassell and uber-prospect James Wood are on the minor league injured listing in the mean time — the latter because of a hamstring pressure. Wooden, specifically, may very well be an choice to make his large league debut later this summer season, with Andrew Golden of The Washington Publish relaying on X as we speak that Wooden might return to recreation motion this week. However Hassell might pressure his approach into that dialog as nicely if he’s cleared to return ahead of later and continues to point out enchancment over final season. His prospect inventory has taken a notable hit for the reason that time of that swap, however he’s maintained robust plate self-discipline (11.6% stroll fee) and minimize his strikeout fee from final 12 months’s alarming 31.9% to a much more palatable 21.4% in 2024.

Dylan Crews may even be within the combine, as he’s being promoted to Triple-A, per @PROducerIOTB on X. That’s come on the heels of Crews hitting .274/.343/.446 in Double-A this 12 months whereas stealing 15 bases.